Study of iron deficiency in a population of blood donors in Tlemcen - Algeria

Blood transfusion is an essential substitutive therapy for multiple diseases. To minimize a potential risk of transfusion-transmitted infections, the WHO recommends using regular blood donors. However, regular donors constitute a population at risk of anaemia due to subclinical iron deficiency which is not covered by most hemovigilance donor systems. Thus, the aim of the present study is to determine the prevalence of the deficiency among donors from Tlemcen, Algeria. These donors were selected to perform a blood count and a dosage of ferritinemia. Statistical analyses using SPSS software, and Excel was performed. The prevalence of iron deficiency was calculated at 35.2% and anaemia at 22%. Ferritinemia was strongly related to the different characteristics of the donation, mainly in women population. Hemovigilance systems should integrate blood donor safety focus their efforts on protection against iron deficiency. Unlike Haemoglobin, serum ferritin remains the most sensitive and early marker for donor protection against this deficiency.