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.

Method and Materials: 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, O₂ sat 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.

Keywords:

• Cyanotic congenital heart disease
• Iron deficiency
• Viscosity

Acknowledgments

We thank the staff of Gazi University Pediatric Cardiology a lot for their help.

Disclaimer statement

Contributors Grant support: Gazi University research Project, Number: 01/2011-93.

Funding None.

Conflicts of interest None.

Ethics approval Gazi University Medicine Faculty ethics committee approval was obtained for the study. Families and patients were informed regarding the study and informed voluntary confirmation form approval was acquired from families and pediatric school-age patients.