SOLUBLE TRANSFERRIN RECEPTOR (sTfR), SERUM

SOLUBLE TRANSFERRIN RECEPTOR (STFR) LEVEL IS A MARKER OF IRON DEFICIENCY AND REFLECTS DEGREE OF AVAILABILITY OF IRON FOR CELLS. IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA (IDA) AND ANEMIA OF CHRONIC DISEASE (ACD) ARE DIFFERENTIATED PRIMARILY BY ESTIMATES OF IRON STATUS (IRON, TIBC AND FERRITIN). WHILE FERRITIN MEASUREMENT IS THE ACCEPTED METHOD FOR ASSESSMENT OF IRON DEFICIENCY, FERRITIN IS AN ACUTE-PHASE REACTANT AND ELEVATES IN RESPONSE TO PROCESSES THAT DO NOT CORRELATE WITH IRON STATUS, INCLUDING INFLAMMATION, CHRONIC DISEASE, MALIGNANCY AND INFECTION. UNLIKE FERRITIN, THE SERUM CONCENTRATION OF STFR IS NOT AFFECTED BY AN ACUTE-PHASE REACTION OR ACUTE LIVER FUNCTION DISORDERS OR ANY OTHER CONFOUNDING CONDITIONS MENTIONED ABOVE.