title: Linear growth in children with iron deficiency anemia before and after treatment.
abstract: We measured growth [length (L) standard deviation score (SDS), growth velocity (GV) SDS and body mass index (BMI)] and hematological (hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV and MCH) parameters in 40 children (aged 17.2 +/- 12.4 months) with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) before and after iron therapy. Before treatment children with IDA had LSDS = -1.2 +/- 1, GV = 7.5 +/- 2.2, GVSDS = -1.42 +/- 0.6 and BMI = 13.5 +/- 1.2. They were significantly shorter and had reduced growth as compared with age-matched controls. After treatment, their growth parameters significantly increased with LSDS = -0.6 +/- -0.9, GV = 13.2 +/- 4.4 cm year(-1), GVSDS = 1.7 +/- 0.5 and BMI = 14.2 +/- 1.1. Their GV correlated significantly with serum ferritin concentration (r = 0.48, p < 0.001) and BMI (r = 0.32, p < 0.1). In summary, IDA during the first 2 years of life significantly impairs growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Centre, Doha, Qatar. atsoliman@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ashraf T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.forename: Muhamad M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al Dabbagh
authors.forename: Alia Hussein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Habboub
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adel
authors.forename: Noura Al
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Humaidy
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abushahin
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011780:Qatar; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron