title: The effects of iron treatment on viscosity in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was planned to determine the effects of iron treatment in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 39 patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease including 20 (51%) females, 19 (49%) males and whose mean age was 9.9 ± 6.2 years, average weight was 33 ± 18.4 kg were evaluated. Patients were categorized into two groups as having iron deficiency and no iron deficiency with respect to their ferritin levels. 4 mg/kg/day iron treatment with two valences was applied to the groups with iron deficiency for 3 months. Clinical and laboratory findings of both groups were assessed at the outset and 3 months later and viscosity measurements were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Iron deficiency was identified in 21 (53.8%) out of 39 patients. Average Hb and Hct values following 3-month iron treatment increased from 14.8 ± 2.4 g/dl to 16.0 ± 2.0 (P = 0.003) and from %45.8 ± 7.5 to %47.6 ± 7.2 (P = 0.052), respectively. Average viscosity value, however, was 5.6 ± 1.0 cP, it reduced to 5.5 ± 1.0 cP value by demonstrating very little reduction (P = 0.741). Nevertheless, O2sat value increased from 71.7 to 75% and complaints such as headache, visual blurriness, having frequent sinusitis decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was observed that iron treatment increased Hb and Hct levels in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease without raising viscosity and it ensured improvement in clinical symptoms.
authors.affiliation: a Medicine Faculty Pediatric Cardiology Department , Gazi University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Semiha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terlemez
authors.affiliation: a Medicine Faculty Pediatric Cardiology Department , Gazi University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Sedef
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Tunaoğlu
authors.affiliation: b Medicine Faculty Physiology , Gazi University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Göktaş
authors.affiliation: c Chemistry Faculty Statistics , Gazi University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Çelik
authors.affiliation: b Medicine Faculty Physiology , Gazi University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erbaş
authors.affiliation: d Medicine Faculty Pediatric Hematology Department , Gazi University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ülker
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Koçak
authors.affiliation: a Medicine Faculty Pediatric Cardiology Department , Gazi University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kula
authors.affiliation: a Medicine Faculty Pediatric Cardiology Department , Gazi University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayşe Deniz
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Oğuz
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000628:therapy*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: Cyanotic congenital heart disease; Iron deficiency; Viscosity