AUTHOR=AlQarni Amani M. , Althumairi Arwa , Alkaltham Nourah K. , AlJishi Samaa , Hakami Amani Mohammed , Abdalla Leena Mohamed Osman Ali , Alawi Zahra Sayed Jalal , Alreedy Abdullah H. 

TITLE=Diagnostic test performance of the Mentzer index in evaluating Saudi children with microcytosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1361805

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1361805

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Background: Anemia is a global public health concern, affecting both developing and industrialized countries at a rate of 39.8%. Defined by low hemoglobin concentration, anemia varies in severity based on age: <11 g/dl (6-59 months), <11.5 g/dl (5-11 years), and <12 g/dl (12-14 years).Aim: This study evaluates the Mentzer index's reliability in differentiating iron deficiency anemia from thalassemia trait.Fl) with hemoglobin electrophoresis and iron profile were included. Children with other hematological conditions were excluded.Results: indicate that out of 434 children, 181 were classified as having thalassemia and 345 as having iron deficiency anemia. The Mentzer index showed 74% sensitivity and 63% specificity for beta thalassemia trait, with 61% sensitivity and 36% specificity for iron deficiency anemia. The beta thalassemia trait group had the highest negative predictive value (98%), while iron deficiency anemia had the highest positive predictive value (79%).our study suggests that the Mentzer index is not highly reliable in distinguishing iron deficiency anemia from thalassemia trait among children in Saudi Arabia, aligning with previous literature.