Soluble Transferrin Receptor (sTfR) and sTfR/log Ferritin Index for the Diagnosis of Iron-Deficiency Anemia A Meta-Analysis. Issue 5 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Infusino, Ilenia; Braga, Federica; Dolci, Alberto; Panteghini, Mauro
• Is Part Of: American journal of clinical pathology. Volume 138:Issue 5(2012)
• Page Start: 642
• Page End: 649
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Anemia -- Iron deficiency -- Soluble transferrin receptor -- Meta-analysis; Diagnosis, Laboratory -- Periodicals; Pathology -- Periodicals; 616.07
• DOI: 10.1309/AJCP16NTXZLZFAIB
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-9173

Abstract

Abstract : Determination of serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is proposed to distinguish between iron-deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease. Here we conducted a meta-analysis of the literature to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of sTfR and sTfR/log ferritin index. The meta-analysis included 18 sTfR and 10 sTfR index studies. Three sTfR index studies were, however, eliminated as outliers. The odds ratio was significant for both sTfR (22.9, 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.6-55.0) and sTfR index (9.5, 95% CI, 5.0-18.1) in a heterogeneous set of studies. Meta-analysis for sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios (LRs) was performed only in a subset of 10 sTfR studies. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative LRs were 86%, 75%, 3.85, and 0.19, respectively, with an area under summary receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.912 (standard error, 0.039). Additional studies are needed to define the overall diagnostic accuracy of sTfR.