180 children (mean age: 1.8 ± 0.5 years) with cyanotic breath holding spells. They were divided into three groups: with iron deficiency, with iron deficiency anemia and without iron deficiency. Blood hemoglobin, ferritin and iron concentrations were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of iron treatment.
The mean spell frequency was 24.6 ± 7.3/months, 83% had spells after the age of 1 year, 37% had daily spells, 16% had family history of spells, and 61% had iron deficiency/iron deficiency anemia (p = .001). No significant difference in the frequency of spells between children with iron deficiency and those with Iron deficiency anemia. Compared to patients without iron deficiency, there was significant reduction of spells frequency, increased hemoglobin, ferritin and iron levels after 3 and 6 months of iron therapy (p = .0001). Negative correlations were observed between spell frequency with hemoglobin (p = .001), ferritin (p = .0001) and iron (p = .001) levels.
Not only iron deficiency anemia but also iron deficiency alone without anemia is associated with a risk of high-frequency cyanotic breath holding spells.
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Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2018 Oct 23:1-10.
Iron deficiency and cyanotic breath-holding spells: The effectiveness of iron therapy.
Hamed SA и соавт.
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