[Iron-deficiency anemia in children]

Recent studies including case reports, case series, observational epidemiologic studies and intervention trials have suggested an association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). Resolution of IDA was reported to be achieved among the patients who had a suboptimal response to iron therapy despite adequate iron supplementation or who had frequent relapses after stopping iron supplementation in children, especially in puberty. The biologic mechanism by which H. pylori induces the iron stores is not fully understood, but we recently reported that strains of H. pylori derived from pediatric patients with IDA showed enhanced Fe ion uptake and Fe ion-dependent rapid growth compared with those from patients with non-IDA.