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Rheumatology 2000; 39: 193-197
© 2000 British Society for Rheumatology

Paediatric Rheumatology

Elevated serum transferrin receptor concentration in children with juvenile chronic arthritis as evidence of iron deficiency

S. M. Kivivuori3, P. Pelkonen, H. Ylijoki1, P. Verronen2 and M. A. Siimes

1 Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola and
2 Department of Paediatrics, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

Abstract

Objectives. Active juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) is accompanied by anaemia of chronic disease, which may be indistinguishable from anaemia due to iron deficiency. We speculate that elevation of the serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentration, which should not be influenced by inflammation, would be useful for detecting the role of iron status in anaemic children with JCA.

Methods. sTfR concentrations were measured in 30 children with JCA.

Results. The median sTfR was elevated, 6.1 (range 3.4–13.0) mg/l. In 13 patients (43%) the concentrations exceeded the upper limit for healthy subjects. Haemoglobin (r = - 0.48, P = 0.008), mean corpuscular volume (r = - 0.47, P = 0.009) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (r = - 0.65, P = 0.0001) correlated inversely with sTfR concentration.

Conclusions. In 13 of the 30 patients with JCA, the sTfR concentration, which is an indicator of iron status and erythropoiesis, was elevated. The results raise the possibility that sTfR is able to distinguish iron-deficiency anaemia from anaemia of chronic disease. It should be further explored as a candidate.

KEY WORDS: Transferrin receptor, JCA, Children, Iron deficiency, Erythropoiesis

Notes

3 Correspondence to: S.-M. Kivivuori, 715 Ensign Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA.


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