Influence of iron on plasma interleukin-2 and gamma interferon level in iron deficiency anemia.

AIM: to find out the the influence of iron on the levels of plasma IL-2 and IFNgamma in iron deficiency anemia patient.

METHODS: the study subjects were patients with IDA (intended samples) selected from the accessible population that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria using consecutive sampling technique and by signing an informed consent. Blood samples were taken for measurement of IL-2 and IFNgamma concentrations as well as list of questionnaires for obtaining data on age, gender, body weight, infections suffered, use of immunosuppressive medicines, malnutrition, malignancy and genetic disorder, and IDA diagnosis. The levels of IL-2 and IFNgamma were measured before and after 8 weeks of iron tablet adminitration using immunoassay solid phase ELISA. Descriptive statistics was used to illustrate patient's characteristics and frequency distribution of various variables. The average difference of IL-2 and IFNgamma concentrations was also examined pre and post administration of iron tablets for 8 weeks using Wilkoxon sign rank test.

RESULTS: in the study, 26 IDA patients were eligible, chosen from 64 IDA patients who were then given iron tablets for 8 weeks. By the end of the treatment, they were tested for complete blood analysis, serum ferritin, and cytokines of plasma. Sign rank test of Wilcoxon was used to find out direction and degree of difference between the two paired groups which showed a significant difference between pre and post iron tablet administration of hemoglobin (Z= -4.561; p<0.001), MCV (Z= -4.276; p<0.001), MCH (Z= -3.616; p<0.001) and feritin (Z= -3.556; p<0.001). After 8 weeks of iron tablets, the study also noted, increasing of plasma IL-2 and IFNgamma. Before treatment level of plasma IL-2 was 7.65 pg/l then became 29.3 pg/l after treatment (Z=- 3.508, p<0.001) and plasma IFNg before treatment was 10.15 pg/l became 46.7 pg/l after treatment (Z= -4.241, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: concentration of IL2 dan IFNgamma in plasma significantly increased after administration of iron tablets for 8 weeks as compared to that before iron treatment.