Cardiac functions in children with iron deficiency anemia

In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of iron deficiency (ID) on cardiac functions with M-mode, pulse Doppler, and tissue Doppler and to compare the findings with healthy individuals. Twenty one children with only ID (prelatent ID + latent ID + manifest ID/anemia) and completely healthy 23 children were included in the study. Of all patients, complete blood counts were studied, and serum iron (Fe), iron binding capacity (FeBC), and ferritin levels were measured. Echocardiographic assessment was performed for those who were diagnosed with Fe deficiency at the beginning of the study and after there covery of anemia and once at the beginning of the study for those who were healthy. There were significant differences between control group values and pre-treatment values of patients with manifest ID in terms of hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), ferritin, Fe, FeBC, aortic diameter (AD), and left atrial diameter (LAD). Between the preand post-treatment values of manifest ID (anemia) patients, there were significant differences in terms Hgb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, ferritin, Fe, FeBC, AD, LAD, left ventricular end systolic diameter, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, septal thickness, posterior wall thickness, ejection fraction, fractional short time, mitral, tricuspid, and septal isovolumetric relaxation time and septal isovolumetric contraction time. Diastolic and systolic cardiac dysfunction occurs at the stage of manifest ID where the value of Hgb decreased and these changes recover with treatment.