Prevalence of Iron Deficiency in Children with Down Syndrome

Objectives To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in a sample of children with Down syndrome (DS) and to evaluate the effect of macrocytosis on the diagnosis of ID/IDA in these children. Study design Children with DS ≥12 months of age who were followed a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of pediatrics 2010-12, Vol.157 (6), p.967-971.e1
Main Authors: Dixon, Natalia E., MD, Crissman, Blythe G., MS, Smith, P. Brian, MD, MPH, MS, Zimmerman, Sherri A., MD, Worley, Gordon, MD, Kishnani, Priya S., MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - epidemiology
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - etiology
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Down Syndrome - complications
Epidemiology
Female
General aspects
Humans
Infant
Iron - deficiency
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Pediatrics
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Young Adult
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Summary:Objectives To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in a sample of children with Down syndrome (DS) and to evaluate the effect of macrocytosis on the diagnosis of ID/IDA in these children. Study design Children with DS ≥12 months of age who were followed at the Duke University Medical Center Comprehensive DS Clinic from December 2004 to March 2007 were screened for ID/IDA with a complete blood count, reticulocyte count, iron panel, and erythrocytic protoporphyrins. Results A total of 114 children were enrolled, with a median age of 4.7 years. ID was identified in 12 subjects (10%), and IDA was identified in 3 subjects (3%). ID/IDA would not have been accurately diagnosed in 13 of 15 subjects (86%) if red blood cell (RBC) indices alone had been used for screening. Abnormal RBC indices with low transferrin saturation were 100% sensitive for ID/ IDA screening. Conclusions Prevalence of ID/IDA in children with DS was comparable with that in the general pediatric population. Macrocytosis had implications for screening of ID/IDA with only RBC indices. We suggest ID/IDA screening in DS children be done with a laboratory panel at least including complete blood count, reticulocyte count, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin.
ISSN:0022-3476
1097-6833
DOI:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.06.011