Evaluation of Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content and Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin as Predictive Biomarkers of Anemia in Children on Hemodialysis

Background: Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia with currently available tests is rendered difficult in hemodialysis patients. The aim: To investigate the role of reticulocyte Hemoglobin Content (CHr) in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in hemodialysis children in comparison to the used traditional markers and assess the impressiveness and the utility of Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) as a novel biomarker of iron status in those patients. Methods: This study investigated CHr in addition to NGAL serum level in the same line with traditional markers for anemia, including: CBC, serum iron, ferritin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation (TSAT%). Results: It is more significant that CHr content in hemodialysis children is lower than their controls as they are (27.06 ± 2.90) pg and (32.86 ± 3.59) pg, respectively, p = 0.01. There is no significant difference regarding NGAL between the study groups. Significant negative correlation between CHr with ferritin, urea, creatinine, and positively correlated with iron and RBCS. CHr showed a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 86.67% to detect iron-deficiency anemia with a cut-off value of 27 pg. Conclusion: CHr is superior to ferritin and TSAT % for the early diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in hemodialysis children;our results do not support NGAL as a marker of anemia in hemodialysis patients.