Resumo

LEAL MONTIEL, Jorymar Y; ORTEGA, Pablo; AMAYA, Daisy  e  CHAVEZ, Carlos J. Anemia y depleción de las reservas de hierro en niños con Síndrome de Down. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2009, vol.72, n.2, pp.53-58. ISSN 0004-0649.

There are few studies in relation to the prevalence of anemia and depletion of iron stores (dIs) in individuals with Down Syndrome (ds). Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and dIs in children with Down Syndrome from Maracaibo-Venezuela. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out on 169 chidren (aged 4 to 14 years); 87 without ds and 80 with ds; without infectious or inflammatory processes. Anemia was considered when Hemoglobin <110 g/L in <5y old, hb<115 g/L in 5 to 11y old and hb<120 g/L in 12 to 14 y old; microcytosis (mean corpuscular volume mcv<80 fL) and hypochromia (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin mch<27 pg). dIs=ferritin<15µg/L; dIs risk ferritin=15-20µg/L and normal iron stores normal (nIs) ferritin>20µg/L. Statistical analysis was performed with sAs programs, statistical significance was considered when p<0.05. Results: The overall prevalence of anemia was 20.71%. This prevalence was much lower in children with ds (5.92%; p<0.01) Prevalence of microcytosis (5.0%) and hypochromia (18.75%) were also significantly lower in children with ds (p<0.0001). No macrocytosis was observed but hipercromia was detected in 7.50%. Although, the prevalence of dIs (9.14%) was higher in children with ds, the prevalence of dIs risk was lower (36.59%). Age, weight and height did not show statistical differences between groups. Conclusion: dIs and dIs risk are prevalent nutritional deficiencies in children with Down Syndrome, which require special attention in order to improve nutritional and health status in this population.

Palavras-chave : Anemia; depleted iron stores; Down syndrome; children.