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Iron metabolism in burned children
J A Belmonte1, L Ibáñez, M R Ras
1Paediatric Burns Unit, Hospital Universitari Materno-Infantil Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
European Journal of Pediatrics
|July 21, 1999
Summary
Iron levels in children with burns are low in the acute phase, with decreased sideraemia and transferrin saturation. These iron parameters recover naturally, suggesting iron supplementation is not recommended during the initial stress period for burned patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Burn Care
- Iron Metabolism
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Iron supplementation in pediatric burn patients is controversial.
- Recent evidence suggests against its use during the acute stress phase.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate iron metabolism parameter differences between acute and recovery phases in pediatric burn patients.
- To assess the need for iron supplementation in the acute phase of burns.
Main Methods:
- Studied 21 pediatric burn patients (burns >10% body surface) without transfusions or iron supplementation.
- Assessed sideraemia, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation index (TSI), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in acute and recovery phases.
Main Results:
- Sideraemia, transferrin, and TSI were significantly lower in the acute phase compared to the recovery phase.
- Plasma ferritin and CRP levels were significantly higher in the acute phase.
- Observed differences persisted across different age groups.
Conclusions:
- Hyposideraemia and decreased transferrin are common in acute pediatric burns.
- Iron levels tend to recover naturally, indicating an endogenous block of iron release.
- Iron therapy is not recommended during the initial acute stress period for burned children.