title: Brain iron levels in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot MRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain iron deficiency has been supposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Available studies assessing iron in ADHD are based on serum ferritin, a peripheral marker of iron status. To what extent serum ferritin correlates with brain iron (BI) is unclear. The main aim of this study was to compare BI, estimated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the putamen, pallidum, caudate, and thalamus, between children with and without ADHD. The secondary aim was to assess the correlation between serum ferritin and BI levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six children (18 with and 18 without ADHD, the latter including nine healthy controls and nine psychiatric controls) completed MRI and blood sampling. Brain iron levels were estimated by imaging T2*.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with ADHD showed significantly lower estimated BI in right and left thalamus compared to healthy controls. Estimated BI did not differ significantly between children with ADHD and psychiatric controls. Children with ADHD had significantly lower levels of serum ferritin than healthy as well as psychiatric controls. Serum ferritin and T2* values did not correlate significantly in most regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low iron in the thalamus may contribute to ADHD pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychopathology Unit, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris VII University, Paris, France. samuele.cortese@gmail.com
authors.forename: Samuele
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azoulay
authors.forename: F Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chalard
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lecendreux
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chechin
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delorme
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sebag
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sbarbati
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mouren
authors.forename: Bernardo Dalla
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Bernardina
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Konofal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011699:Putamen / Q000737:chemistry; D013788:Thalamus / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins