The effects of iron treatment on viscosity in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to determine the effects of iron treatment in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease.

METHOD AND MATERIALS: A total of 39 patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease including 20 (51%) females, 19 (49%) males and whose mean age was 9.9 ± 6.2 years, average weight was 33 ± 18.4 kg were evaluated. Patients were categorized into two groups as having iron deficiency and no iron deficiency with respect to their ferritin levels. 4 mg/kg/day iron treatment with two valences was applied to the groups with iron deficiency for 3 months. Clinical and laboratory findings of both groups were assessed at the outset and 3 months later and viscosity measurements were carried out.

RESULTS: Iron deficiency was identified in 21 (53.8%) out of 39 patients. Average Hb and Hct values following 3-month iron treatment increased from 14.8 ± 2.4 g/dl to 16.0 ± 2.0 (P = 0.003) and from %45.8 ± 7.5 to %47.6 ± 7.2 (P = 0.052), respectively. Average viscosity value, however, was 5.6 ± 1.0 cP, it reduced to 5.5 ± 1.0 cP value by demonstrating very little reduction (P = 0.741). Nevertheless, O2 sat value increased from 71.7 to 75% and complaints such as headache, visual blurriness, having frequent sinusitis decreased.

CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that iron treatment increased Hb and Hct levels in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease without raising viscosity and it ensured improvement in clinical symptoms.