Effectiveness of iron therapy on breath-holding spells.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of iron therapy on breath-holding spells (BHS).


METHODS
Sixty-seven children with BHS were enrolled in a clinical trial to evaluate the effect of iron therapy on BHS. At the beginning of therapy, the clinical, laboratory, and demographic characteristics of the patients in the treatment group (n = 33) and placebo group (n = 34) were comparable. Patients were assessed weekly for the first 8 weeks and then every 2 weeks for the next 8 weeks. Response to therapy was assessed by the change in the frequency of BHS.


RESULTS
Children treated with iron showed significant reduction in the frequency of BHS (88%) compared with the frequency (6%) in the placebo group. As expected, the treated group showed a significant improvement of a number of blood indexes compared with the placebo group. Baseline mean levels of hemoglobin and total iron binding capacity were predictive of a favorable response to iron treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study indicate that iron therapy is effective in the treatment of BHS and that iron-deficient children seem to be more likely to benefit from such therapy. Response to iron therapy was strongly correlated with improvement in blood indexes.
Daoud
A S
AS
Department of Paediatrics and Community Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Batieha
A
A
al-Sheyyab
M
M
Abuekteish
F
F
Hijazi
S
S
D001049:Apnea / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D007501:Iron