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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
Published on: March 14, 2017
Iron status of children with sickle cell disease
N Stettler1, B S Zemel, D A Kawchak
1The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, USA. nstettle@cceb.med.upenn.edu
Insights
Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) do not appear to have iron deficiency, contrary to previous research. This study found normal iron levels in most young patients with SCD.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Nutritional Science
- Genetic Blood Disorders
Background:
- Dietary iron requirements for children with sickle cell disease (SS-type) remain poorly understood.
- Previous studies suggested a potential for iron deficiency in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the iron status of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who are not receiving iron supplements.
- To investigate whether children with SCD exhibit signs of iron deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Iron status was evaluated in 104 African American children diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD).
- Participants ranged in age from 0.5 to 17.6 years and were not transfused or on iron supplements.
- Dietary iron intake was not assessed in this particular study.
Main Results:
- Serum ferritin levels were normal or elevated in all assessed children.
- Most children presented with normal hematologic and biochemical markers for iron deficiency.
- No significant indicators of iron deficiency were observed in the study cohort.
Conclusions:
- This study's findings contrast with prior research, indicating no signs of iron deficiency in this cohort of children and adolescents with sickle cell disease.
- The results suggest that iron supplementation may not be universally necessary for all children with SCD.
- Further research is warranted to clarify iron metabolism and requirements in pediatric SCD patients.
Background:
Dietary iron requirements are unclear in children with SS-type sickle cell disease.
Methods:
Iron status was assessed in 104 nontransfused African American children (aged 0.5 to 17.6 years) with sickle cell disease who receive no iron supplement. Dietary iron intake was not measured at the time of this study.
Results:
Serum ferritin was normal or high in all children. Other hematologic and biochemical indicators of iron deficiency were in the normal range in most children.
Conclusions:
Unlike previous studies, this sample of children and adolescents did not show signs of iron deficiency.
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