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New Insights into Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children: A Practical Review
Carla Moscheo1, Maria Licciardello2, Piera Samperi2
1Pediatric Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico "Rodolico-San Marco", viale Carlo Azeglio Ciampi n.1, 95121 Catania, Italy.
Insights
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children is common, especially in developing nations. New iron formulations offer improved efficacy and reduced side effects for better treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most prevalent hematological disorder in children globally.
- Significant disparities exist in IDA prevalence between industrialized and developing countries.
- Current management of pediatric IDA requires optimization, despite its long-recognized status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the latest clinical insights into pediatric IDA.
- To provide a practical guide for pediatricians on IDA prevention and therapy.
- To highlight advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for IDA in children.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature on IDA diagnosis and treatment in pediatric populations.
- Analysis of novel oral and parenteral iron formulations.
- Evaluation of clinical data on efficacy and toxicity of new iron preparations.
Main Results:
- Innovative oral iron formulations (glycinate, liposomal) demonstrate high efficacy with fewer side effects than traditional salts.
- Parenteral iron, including ferrocarboxymaltose, shows promise for specific pediatric cases, with evolving applications.
- Newer iron therapies aim for improved treatment schedules, efficacy, and reduced toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Advances in iron formulations are enhancing the management of IDA in children.
- Pediatricians can benefit from updated guidance on selecting optimal prevention and therapy strategies.
- Continued research into novel iron delivery systems is crucial for addressing IDA effectively.
Abstract:
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most frequent hematological disorder in children, with an incidence in industrialized countries of 20.1% between 0 and 4 years of age and 5.9% between 5 and 14 years (39 and 48.1% in developing countries). Although IDA has been recognized for a long time, there are still uncovered issues and room for improving the management of this condition. New frontiers regarding its diagnosis and therapeutic options emerge every day; recently, innovative formulations of iron have been launched, both for oral and parenteral administration, with the aim of offering treatment schedules with higher efficacy and lower toxicity. As a matter of fact, glycinate and liposomal preparations, while maintaining a satisfying efficacy profile, have significantly fewer side effects, in comparison to the traditional elemental iron salts; parenteral iron, usually considered a second-choice therapy reserved to selected cases, may evolve further, as a consequence of the production of molecules with an interesting clinical profile such as ferrocarboxymaltose, which is already available for adolescents aged >14 years. The present article reports the clinically relevant latest insights regarding IDA in children and offers a practical guide to help pediatricians, particularly to choose the most appropriate prevention and therapy strategies.
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