Anemia in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Hematology
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Research

Background:

• Anemia is a frequent extra-intestinal manifestation in pediatric patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
• Understanding the prevalence and types of anemia at diagnosis and during follow-up is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and types of anemia in pediatric patients diagnosed with IBD.
• To assess anemia at diagnosis and approximately one year post-diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of pediatric IBD patients (ages 1-18) diagnosed between 2005-2012.
• Inclusion criteria: hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and iron indices at diagnosis and 1-year follow-up.
• Anemia typing utilized the soluble transferrin receptor index.

Main Results:

• At diagnosis, 67.31% of pediatric IBD patients had anemia.
• Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) or combined IDA/anemia of chronic disease (ACD) affected 28.85%, while 38.46% had ACD alone.
• At 1-year follow-up, anemia prevalence decreased to 20.51%, with 15.38% having IDA or combined IDA/ACD and 5.13% having ACD alone.

Conclusions:

• Anemia is highly prevalent in pediatric IBD, particularly in Crohn disease (CD).
• Anemia significantly decreased but persisted at 1 year post-diagnosis.
• Anemia of chronic disease was predominant in CD, while IDA persisted in both CD and ulcerative colitis.