Frequency of Coincident Iron Deficiency among Children with Β Thalassemia Trait

β Thalassemia Trait(BTT) produces mild ineffective erythropoiesis and associated increased iron absorption from the gut. Based on these reasons it had been suggested that BTT confers an advantage in maintaining iron balance, in which case prevalence of iron deficiency should be lower in those with the trait. This Study was carried out to determine the frequency of coexistence of iron deficiency anaemia among children with β Thalassemia Trait (BTT) aged 1 to 12 yrs. 6 out of the 46 (13%) children with BTT were found to have concomitant iron deficiency (serum ferritin <12 μg/l) in comparison to 5 of the 25(20%) healthy non anemic controls, a difference which is not statistically significant. Microcytosis (MCV<75 fl) was significantly more associated with BTT as compared to control group. The difference between HbA2% of iron replete BTT and iron deficient BTT was not found to be significantly different. Based on these data, the following inferences can be drawn: Iron deficiency is no less common in children with β Thalassemia Trait than in those without. Any advantage conferred by BTT in prevention of Iron deficiency is probably trivial, and so a combined state of BTT and iron deficiency should be searched for in presence of microcytic anaemia . Iron supplements should be given in case of coincident iron deficiency in children with BTT as timely intervention can preclude the psychomotor adverse effects of iron deficient. Microcytosis (MCV<75 fl) can be regarded as a sensitive screening tool for β Thalassemia Trait . The percent elevation of HbA2 in BTT was striking even in presence of iron deficiency and concern about the reliability of HbA2 quantitation in presence of iron deficiency does not appear to be relevant and the test can be used confidently as a discriminant.