Erythrocyte indices of iron status in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Abstract

Abstract Background Iron (Fe) deficiency is a known feature of cyanotic
congenital heart disease (CCHD) and
may worsen symptoms. The prevalence of iron deficiency among children with CCHD at the University
College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan is
unknown. Erythrocyte indices of iron
status are easier and less expensive to
determine than serum iron, serum
ferritin and total iron binding capacity, which are the standard tests of
iron deficiency.
Objectives: To examine the erythrocyte indices of iron status in children
with CCHD in UCH, and determine
the prevalence of iron deficiency
among such patients, by comparing
the values obtained with established
reference values.
Subjects and Methods: The packed
cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin
(Hb), mean corpuscular volume
(MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and red
cell distribution width (RDW) of 40
children with CCHD, determined
using a Sysmex 1000X1 Coulter
counter, were compared with standard reference values.
Results: Mean+SD values obtained
were – PCV: 58.6+11.6%. MCV:
80.7+12.1 µm3
, MCH: 25.9+9.5g/
dl, MCHC: 30.9+4.1 and RDW:
20.5.5+12.6%.
Lower-than-normal values for
MCV, MCH and MCHC were
found in 33.5%, 42.5% and 72.5%
of patients, respectively, while
77.5% had higher-than-normal values for RDW. However, using the
criteria based on a combination of
RDW and MCV, 35% of patients
were iron deficient.
Conclusion: A large proportion of
Nigerian children with CCHD appear to be iron deficient and are
therefore likely to benefit from routine iron therapy.
Key words: Cyanotic Congenital
Heart Disease; Erythrocyte indices;
Iron deficiency.