765 Linear Growth and Circulating IGF-I Concentrations in Children with Iron Deficiency Anemia After Treatment

Objective To assess linear growth of patients with Fe deficiency anemia (IDA) before and after in relation to their hematologic parameters and IGF-I concentration before and after treatment with iron. Methods Forty children (aged 17.2 +/– 12.4) months with iron deficiency anemia were studied with 40 healthy normal age-matched children (controls). Patients were treated with iron syrup or drops to supply 6 mg/kg/day. Growth (weight, length and head-circumference) and hematological parameters were measured and IGF-I concentrations measured before and 3 and 6 months after treatment. Results Growth parameters (weight, length and head-circumference) and hematological parameters were studied for 6 months after iron therapy. At presentation, patients with IDA had low Hb (8.2 +/– 1.2 g/dl), hematocrit (29 +/– 2.8), MCV (61.5 +/– 8.1), and MCH (19 +/– 3.2) which improved significantly after treatment to (11.2 +/– 1 g/dl, 70.6 +/– 6.8, 23.4 +/– 2.9 and 18.9 +/– 5 respectively). Before treatment children with iron deficiency they had length standard deviation score (LSDS) = – 1.2 +/– 1, annualized growth velocity (GV) = 7.5 +/– 2.2, GV SDS = –1.42 +/– 0.6 and BMI = 13.5 +/– 1.2. After 6 months their LSDS = –0.6 +/– –0.9, annualized GV=13.2 +/– 4.4 cm/year, GVSDS = 1.7 +/– 0.5, and BMI = 14.2 +/– 1.1). Circulating IGF-I increased significantly after treatment (52 +/– 18.8 ng/ml) vs before treatment (26.5 +/– 4.2 ng/ml).