title: Serum ferritin in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: To further define a role for iron deficiency in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, serum ferritin was included in a battery of laboratory tests obtained in children attending a clinic for attention deficit disorders. In a total of 68 consecutive patients (ages 5-16 years; 54 male, 14 female), the range of serum ferritin levels was a low of 7.7 ng/mL and a high of 150 ng/mL. The mean (+/-S.D.) serum ferritin level in patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (39.9 +/- 40.6 ng/mL) was not different from that of control subjects. Seventy-four percent of patients had serum ferritin levels below 50 ng/mL; 44% were below 30 ng/mL; and 18% below 20 ng/mL. None had evidence of iron deficiency anemia. A comparison of the clinical characteristics of the 12 patients with the lowest serum ferritin levels (<20 ng/mL) and 12 with the highest levels (>60 ng/mL) disclosed no significant difference in severity or frequency of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and comorbid symptoms or response to medications. In this patient cohort, a causative role for low serum ferritin in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder has not been confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA. gmillichap@childrensmemorial.org
authors.forename: J Gordon
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Millichap
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: Sonia I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins