STUDY OF IRON PROFILE IN CHILDREN WITH TUBERCULOSIS DIAGNOSED BY GENEXPERT

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate abnormalities in iron profiles among pediatric patients diagnosed with GeneXpert-positive tuberculosis

Study Design: Cross-sectional

Study Setting and Duration: Pediatric department, Ali Fatima Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, from November 2025 to April 2026.

Methodology: 60 pediatric patients aged 1-14 years were recruited based on a non-probability sample with confirmed GeneXpert positive tuberculosis. Levels of hemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (Fe), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and serum ferritin (SF) was measured using automated analyzers. Data was analyzed using SPSS. The normality of data will be determined using the Shapiro-Wilk test. An independent t-test or Mann-Whitney U test will be used for statistical comparison of PTB versus EPTB group outcomes. Statistical significance will be set at p<0.05.

Results: Sixty (60) subjects' mean (SD) age was 8.17 (3.85 years) with a mean (SD) weight of 19.34 (4.54kg). The mean (SD) hemoglobin level amongst this subject population was 8.94 (0.88g/dL), serum iron level of 32.30 (6.7 μg/dL), TIBC level of 150.68 (18.37μg/dL), and a mean (SD) ferritin level of 501.34 (117.61ng/mL). Of this subject population, 51.7% of subjects were female, 55% of subjects came from a low socioeconomic background, and 68.3% of subjects had a family history of tuberculosis. There were no statistically significant differences in PTB vs. EPTB subjects for age, hemoglobin, serum iron, TIBC, or ferritin concentrations (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Pediatric TB is associated with low levels of iron in the circulation; low levels of circulating iron may increase TB risk in children.