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Iron deficiency: a cause of stroke in infants and children
D S Hartfield1, N J Lowry, D L Keene
1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Insights
Iron deficiency, a common issue in infants, is rarely linked to stroke. This study found a strong association between iron deficiency and ischemic events in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Hematology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Iron deficiency affects 20-25% of infants globally, primarily causing anemia.
- Neurologic sequelae of iron deficiency include irritability, lethargy, developmental delay, and rarely papilledema.
- Iron deficiency is not commonly recognized as a cause of stroke in pediatric populations.
Observation:
- A series of 6 children aged 6-18 months presented with ischemic stroke or venous thrombosis.
- All patients experienced a viral prodrome preceding the thrombotic event.
- Iron deficiency was a consistent finding in all affected children.
Findings:
- Exclusion of other known pediatric stroke etiologies was performed.
- A strong association was identified between iron deficiency and ischemic events.
- The study focused on children aged 6 to 18 months.
Implications:
- Highlights a potential underrecognized cause of stroke in infants.
- Suggests screening for iron deficiency in young children presenting with stroke.
- Warrants further research into the mechanisms linking iron deficiency to pediatric thrombosis.
Abstract:
Iron deficiency is a common pediatric problem affecting 20%-25% of the world's infants. Most commonly causing anemia, iron deficiency is also implicated in such neurologic sequelae as irritability, lethargy, headaches, developmental delay, and infrequently papilledema, pseudotumor cerebri, and cranial nerve abnormalities. Rarely has iron deficiency been recognized as a significant cause of stroke in the adult or pediatric populations. We report a series of 6 children, 6 to 18 months of age, who presented with an ischemic stroke or venous thrombosis after a viral prodrome. All patients had iron deficiency as a consistent finding among the group, and other known etiologies of childhood stroke were excluded. These patients provide evidence of a strong association between iron deficiency and ischemic events in children between 6 and 18 months of age.