| Abstract [eng] |
Frequent occurrences of anaemia among people of various age groups are caused by a shortage of iron (Fe) and its compounds. Testing of serum iron concentration is a significant indicator of Fe deficiency in diagnosing anaemia. The aim of the research is to assess changes in red blood cell indicators and in serum iron concentration as signs of iron-deficiency anaemia. Objectives of the research: to assess changes in red blood cell indicators and their importance in assessing changes in serum iron concentration; to assess changes in these indicators that depend on the sex and age of the patients and the season of the year. Material and methods. One hundred and fifty patients at the Rokiškis Psychiatric Hospital were tested. The following was determined: erythrocyte count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and iron (Fe). Testing was carried out using semi-automatic analysers: RBC—impedance; Hb—cianmethaemoglobin; the HCT analyser calculates by multiplying the red blood cell count by the MCV value; the MCHC analyser calculates by dividing the haemoglobin concentration by the hematocrit; the MCV analyser makes a direct count; RDW is an expression of the coefficient of variation in red cell volume distribution; MCH is derived from the ratio between the amount of haemoglobin and the number of erythrocytes present; and Fe—kinetic. Results and conclusions. The research results showed that in 25% of the people researched serum iron concentration was lower than recommended and was on average 3.89±2.03 µmol/l. The most significant Fe deficiency was identified in the group of 40–59-year-old women (61% of the group researched). Iron deficiency was best reflected by the reduced amount of hematocrit (65%); reduced haemoglobin concentration (68%); lower indicators of MCV (54%), MCH (46%), and MCHC (30%); and higher indicators of the RDW (27%). A reduction in iron concentration was observed in all seasons, with the highest indicators in winter and spring. We identified that the reduction in serum iron concentration is related to changes in the indicators of red blood cells. Testing of these indicators is therefore significant in diagnosing iron-deficiency anaemia. |
