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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics Advance Access published online on December 13, 2006
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, doi:10.1093/tropej/fml070
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© The Author [2006]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Validity Assessment of Nine Discriminant Functions Used for the Differentiation between Iron Deficiency Anemia and Thalassemia Minor

Suad M. AlFadhlia, Anwar M. Al-Awadhia and Doa’a AlKhaldib

aDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait
bHematology Unit, Sabah Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuwait

Correspondence: Dr Suad M. AlFadhli, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, P. O. Box 31470, Sulaibekhat 90805, Kuwait. Tel.: +965-9445422; Fax: +965-483361; E-mail < s.alfadhli{at}hsc.edu.kw>.


  Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and thalassemia minor are two of the most common causes of microcytic anemias worldwide. Because of similar red blood cell count parameters and blood picture, it was imperative to develop other measures that would differentially and correctly diagnose these two anemias. Several mathematical formulas and simple RBC indices have been introduced as simple, fast and inexpensive means of providing differential diagnosis for IDA and thalassemia minor. The Objective of this study was to apply and compare nine well-documented discriminant functions on a population of 153 confirmed cases of microcytic anemias (IDA n = 56, ß-thalassemia minor n = 47 and {alpha}-thalassemia n = 50) and to measure validity using Youden's Index. The results show that England and Fraser (E & F) Index had the highest Youden's Index value (98.2) in correctly differentiating between IDA and {alpha}- and ß-thalassemia minor, while Shine and Lal Index was found ineffective in differentiating between microcytic anemias in our population. E & F Index showed with great sensitivity and specificity to be the best discriminant function to differentiate between IDA and thalassemia minor cases.

Key Words: iron deficiency anemia • thalassemia minor • discriminant functions.


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Discrimination Indices in Differentiation of Iron Deficiency Anemia and Beta-Thalassemia Trait
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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 5 Feb 2008 [Full text]

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