Iron status of children with sickle cell disease.
BACKGROUND
Dietary iron requirements are unclear in children with SS-type sickle cell disease.


METHODS
Iron status was assessed in 104 nontransfused African American children (aged 0.5 to 17.6 years) with sickle cell disease who receive no iron supplement. Dietary iron intake was not measured at the time of this study.


RESULTS
Serum ferritin was normal or high in all children. Other hematologic and biochemical indicators of iron deficiency were in the normal range in most children.


CONCLUSIONS
Unlike previous studies, this sample of children and adolescents did not show signs of iron deficiency.
Stettler
N
N
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, USA. nstettle@cceb.med.upenn.edu
Zemel
B S
BS
Kawchak
D A
DA
Ohene-Frempong
K
K
Stallings
V A
VA
D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status
D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron