Objective: To analyze the correlation between plasma iron and ferritin levels and some clinical and paraclinical characteristics in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) at Thai Nguyen National Hospital.
Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 196 ESRD patients on hemodialysis at Thai Nguyen National Hospital.
Results: The prevalence of anemia among patients with ESRD on hemodialysis was 95.9%, while iron deficiency was observed in 39.8% of patients. The mean plasma iron level was 9.39 ± 4.00 µmol/L. Low plasma ferritin levels were found in 52.0% of patients, with a median ferritin level was 82.5 ng/mL. Patients aged ≤60 years and male patients had significantly higher plasma iron levels than those aged >60 years and female patients, respectively (10.0±3.75 µmol/L vs. 8.76±4.18 µmol/L, p<0.01; 10.41± 4.00µmol/L vs. 8.09±3.63 µmol/L, p<0.001). Plasma iron levels decreased progressively with increasing duration of HD and were lowest in patients undergoing hemodialysis for ≥60 months (p = 0.0001). Plasma iron levels also declined with increasing severity of anemia (p<0.01). No significant differences in plasma ferritin levels were observed according to age or duration of HD (p>0.05). However, plasma ferritin levels differed significantly according to sex and anemia severity (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Significant differences in plasma iron levels were observed according to age, sex, duration of HD and severity of anemia. Significant differences in plasma ferritin levels were also found according to sex and severity of anemia. Plasma iron levels were weakly correlated with age, duration of HD, hemoglobin concentration and plasma creatinine levels. Plasma ferritin levels were weakly correlated with red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels.