SUGGESTION OF NEW FORMULAE TO BE USED IN DISTINGUISHING BETA THALASEMIA TRAIT FROM IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

ALPARSLAN MERDİN    

Hematology Clinic and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, University of Health Sciences Ankara Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Introduction: Clinical findings of thalasemia trait is similar with iron deficiency anemia. It is important to discriminate both from each other. Because treatment approaches are different for the each entities. But, it is not always possible to reach enough labo- ratory sufficiency for discriminating the two entities everywhere. Some pratical and easy formulae could help for the discrimination in such insufficient technical possibilities.

Materials and method: 40 patients included in the study. The formula (RDW(Red blood cell distribution width) X RBC(Red blood cell count) X HGB(Hemoglobin))/MCV(Mean corpuscular volume) was evaluated for the discrimination of the two entities. The formula log10 (MCH(Mean corpuscular hemoglobin) X MCHC(Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) X RDW / RBC ) was also evaluated for the differentiation of these two entities. The latter formula was identified as ‘‘Alparslan index’’. These formu- lae were compared with the well known indices such as Mentzer index. Youden Index was calculated for each index for comparing the reliability and validity of the indices.

Results: The study showed no difference between the compared indices according to the sensitivity. Youden Index were found 94,73 for the Alparslan Index and 89,96 for the Mentzer Index.

Discussion: There are many formulae and indices to help have an opinion for the discrimination of beta thalasemia trait from IDA(Iron deficiency anemia). Simply calculable valid formulae could be more commonly and easily used according to the complex calculation formulae. RDWI(Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Index) was found to provide more reliability than Mentzer Index in the study. In the study, Alparslan Index and RDWI were also found to provide same reliability according to Youden Index.