Assessment of the correlation between renal function markers and serum ferritin levels in thalassemia patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze renal function markers and correlate the results with serum ferritin levels in patients with thalassemia who were referred to the Abu Reihan Thalassemia Clinic of Payambar Azam Medical Center in Bandar Abbas, Iran in 2020. We conducted a cross-sectional study and included patients with a proven hemoglobinopathy diagnosis. Fasting blood was obtained to measure creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, uric acid, and ferritin. In addition, a 24-hour urine specimen was collected to determine microalbuminuria, creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, uric acid, and β2-microglobulin. Fractional excretion of sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and uric acid was calculated. Finally, all the information was recorded using checklists, and data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20. Spearman’s coefficient of correlation was used to determine the correlations between serum ferritin level and other variables. Sixty-six patients aged 3 to 42 years were studied. In total, 2 patients (0.3%) had sickle cell thalassemia, 53 patients (80.3%) had major thalassemia, and 11 patients (72.7%) had intermediate thalassemia. Serum ferritin, 24-hour urine protein, and fractional excretion of sodium, calcium, and urine were elevated in thalassemia patients. There was no significant correlation between serum ferritin level and age, fractional excretion of potassium, β2-microglobulin, 24-hour urine protein, and serum creatinine (P value > 0.05). On the other hand, there was a significant correlation between serum ferritin level and fractional excretion of magnesium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, and uric acid with a negative correlation coefficient (p-value ≤0.05). We also found that the serum ferritin levels strongly correlated with microalbuminuria (p value=0.005).