Coagulation abnormalities in pediatric anemia clinical and laboratory correlates for risk stratification and risk...

Anemia affects an estimated 40% of children globally, with iron deficiency, chronic disease, hemoglobinopathies, and acute blood loss as leading causes. In addition to impairing oxygen delivery, anemia can disrupt normal hemostasis, leading to a range of coagulation abnormalities, including thrombocytopenia, reactive thrombocytosis, platelet dysfunction, altered coagulation factor levels, and abnormal fibrinolysis. The type and severity of these coagulation changes vary according to the underlying anemia etiology, influencing the risk of bleeding or thrombotic complications. This narrative review synthesizes current clinical and laboratory evidence on coagulation disturbances in pediatric anemia, highlighting their prevalence, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and clinical manifestations. Emphasis is placed on practical strategies for risk assessment, integrating standard laboratory evaluations - complete blood count, coagulation panel, and platelet function assays - with clinical features to identify children at highest risk for adverse outcomes. The review also discusses implications for individualized management, including etiology-directed therapy, supportive hemostatic measures, and caregiver education to improve safety and outcomes. Future research priorities include the development of standardized risk stratification tools and evidence-based pediatric management guidelines to optimize care in this vulnerable population. This review underscores the need for early coagulation monitoring in anemic children and recommends integrating clinical features with laboratory markers to enhance risk stratification and guide timely, individualized management.