[Soluble transferrin receptors and ferritin index in the diagnosis of iron deficiency in patients with spondyloarthritis and anemia].

Aim: To assess the diagnostic value of the detection of soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR) and ferritin index (sTfR/log Fer) in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and anemia for the revealing absolute iron deficiency (ID).

Materials And Methods: The study included 68 patients with SpA: median age 39 [34; 47] years, men: 38 (55.9%). Hemogram, C-reactive protein levels and ferrokinetics parameters were assessed, including sTfR testing by the method of quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Monobind Inc., USA). We also calculated sTfR/log Fer. Based on ferrokinetics parameters and C-reactive protein levels, chronic disease anemia (CDA), iron deficiency anemia (IDA), or their combination (CDA/IDA) were diagnosed.

Results: CDA was diagnosed in 16 patients, CDA/IDA in 32 patients, and 20 patients had no anemia. An increase in sTfR concentration in patients with CDA/IDA (1.7 [1.4; 2.2] mg/L) compared with patients with CDA (1.5 [1.1; 1.7] mg/L, p0.05) was revealed. sTfR/log Fer in patients with CDA/IDA (0.93 [0.82; 1.24]) was higher than in patients with CDA (0.64 [0.48; 0.75], p0.0001). When evaluating the ROC curves, it was found that sTfR levels 1.39 mg/L and sTfR/log Fer levels 0.83 indicate the presence of absolute ID. The area under the ROC curve for sTfR was 0.72 (95% confidence interval 0.600.82, p0.001), for sTfR/log Fer 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.740.92, p0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of sTfR/log Fer (75 and 83%, respectively) were higher compared with sTfR (53 and 81%, respectively).

Conclusion: In patients with SpA having CDA/IDA, sTfR and sTfR/log Fer are statistically significantly increased. The results obtained indicate the possibility of diagnosing ID by using these parameters.