Plasma CRP-hs and Ferritin Concentration Related to Kidney Injury in Adult Patients with Beta-Thalassemia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Vietnam

Background: Kidney injury (KI) is one of the complications of β-thalassemia patients. Objectives: To determine the rate of KI and its relationship with plasma ferritin and CRP-hs in β-thalassemia patients. Methods: A total of 142 patients diagnosed with β-thalassemia (58.5% minor, 17.6% intermedia, and 23.9% major) were included in our study. In all patients, we measured plasma ferritin, CRP-hs, urine albumin, and serum creatinine and calculated the urine albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR). Based on uACR, we divided the patients into 2 groups: with KI (n = 19, uACR ≥ 3.0 mg/mmol) and without KI (n = 123, uACR < 0.3 mg/mmol). Results: The ratio of KI in β-thalassemia patients was 13.4%. The median concentrations of plasma ferritin and CRP-hs in the KI group were significantly higher than in the non-KI group (P < 0.001). Plasma ferritin and CRP-hs were independent risk factors for KI (P < 0.001). At a cut-off value of 2.35 mg/L, plasma CRP-hs had a predictive value for KI (AUC = 0.841, P < 0.001). Similarly, plasma ferritin at the cut-off value of 2394.95 µg/L showed a predictive value for KI (AUC = 0.789, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The rate of KI was low in adult patients with β-thalassemia. Plasma ferritin and CRP-hs had a good predictive value for KI in β-thalassemia patients.