title: Association between iron deficiency and febrile seizures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between iron status and febrile seizures has been examined in various settings, mainly in the Developing World, with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to investigate any association between iron deficiency and febrile seizures (FS) in European children aged 6-60 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Greek population in Thessaloniki.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 patients with febrile seizures (cases) and 50 controls (children presenting with fever, without seizures).
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Haematologic parameters (haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width), plasma iron, total iron-binding capacity, plasma ferritin, transferrin saturation and soluble transferrin receptors were compared in cases and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma ferritin was lower (median [range]: 42.8 (3-285.7) vs 58.3 (21.4-195.3 ng/ml; p = 0.02) and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) higher (mean [Standard Deviation] 267 [58.9] vs 243 [58.45] μg/dl, p = 0.04) in cases than in controls. Results were similar for 12 complex FS cases (ferritin 30 (3-121 vs 89 (41.8-141.5ng/lL; TIBC 292.92 [68.0] vs 232.08 [36.27] μg/dL). Iron deficiency, defined as ferritin <30 ng/ml, was more frequent in cases (24%) than controls (4%; p = 0.004). Ferritin was lower and TIBC higher in 18 with previous seizures than in 32 with a first seizure although haemoglobin and mean cell haemoglobin concentration were higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  European children with febrile seizures have lower Ferritin than those with fever alone, and iron deficiency, but not anaemia, is associated with recurrence. Iron status screening should be considered as routine for children presenting with or at high risk for febrile seizures.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Valia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Euthymia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vargiami
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleutherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kontopoulos
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kardaras
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Miranta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Athanassiou-Mataxa
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, UK; Neurosciences Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Fenella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kirkham
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: jeff@med.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Dimitrios I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Zafeiriou
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins
keywords: Anaemia; Febrile seizures; Iron deficiency