Assessment of Renal Dysfunction in Adult Patients with Transfusion Dependent Beta Thalassemia Using Urinary Retinol Binding Protein

Background: Individuals with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) have been found to experience renal impairment, which can range from mild to severe. This trial aimed to assess renal dysfunction in adult individuals with TDT using urinary retinol binding protein (RΒP).

Methods: Fifty adults with a history of TDT diagnosed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as children (Group I) and fifty healthy adults serving as controls (Group II) participated in the research.

Results: The TDT (Group I) group had significantly higher levels of urinary retinol binding protein/creatinine ratio (RBP/Cr), urinary calcium/creatinine ratio (Ca/Cr), urinary uric acid/creatinine ratio (UA/Cr), and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) compared to the control (Group II) group. The urinary RBP/Cr ratio was positively correlated with the urinary Ca/Cr ratio, the urinary UA/Cr ratio, and ACR, and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The urinary RBP/Cr ratio significantly predicted the urinary Ca/Cr ratio and urinary UA/Cr ratio, with odds ratios of 1.544 and 4.590, respectively, P <0.05.

Conclusions: One way to identify tubular dysfunction in TDT patients at an early stage is to evaluate the urinary RBP/Cr ratio.