EVALUATION OF THE DIAGNOSTIC IMPORTANCE OF MENTZER INDEX FOR SCREENING THALASSEMIA MINOR AND DIFFERENTIATING IT FROM IRON DEFICIENCY

Background and Aim: Mentzer index can differentiate microcytosis due to Thalassemia from other causes in a minimal resource setting and therefore, it can be playing a significant role in screening of Thalassemia in general population as well as distinguishing β Thalassemia trait from iron deficiency anemia has important clinical implications. The misdiagnosis of β Thalassemia trait has consequences for potential homozygous offspring leading to β Thalassemia disease. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic importance of Mentzer Index for screening Thalassemia minor as compared to other indices and differentiating it from other causes of microcytic anemia at our center. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective analytical study done over a period of 2 years from 1, Jan 2021 to 30, Dec 2022. In this study, a retrospective analysis of all the patients whose HighPerformance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was performed at our laboratory and had microcytic hypochromic RBC picture, was done. Mentzer Index of all these patients was calculated and the results were analyzed and further compared with HPLC. The cut off for Mentzer Index was taken as 13. Results: Total patients screened during the study were 176, out of which 54 patients were Thalassemia minor diagnosed through HPLC. Sensitivity of Mentzer index to detect thalassemic patient was 79.4%, specificity 95.3%, positive predictive value 90% and negative predictive value was found to be 89.7%. Sensitivity of Mentzer index is higher when compared to other indices in our study. Conclusion: Mentzer Index can be calculated from Complete blood counts with red blood cell indices can be used to target population who should be screened for Thalassemia even in a resource poor setting. Various studies and now ours proves Mentzer index to be a good and cheaper alternative to screen patients at primary health centers and can help to reduce the burden of Thalassemia major in society.