PEDIATRICS Vol. 33 No. 1 January 1964, pp. 83-99
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Naiman, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by Shwachman, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Naiman, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by Shwachman, H.

THE GASTROINTESTINAL EFFECTS OF IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

J. L. Naiman M.D.1, F. A. Oski M.D.1, L. K. Diamond M.D.1, G. F. Vawter M.D.1, and H. Shwachman M.D.1

1 Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, and the Medical and Pathology Services of the Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston

A group of 14 infants and children with nutritional iron-deficiency anemia were studied with respect to gastrointestinal function and structure both before and after iron treatment. A high incidence of abnormalities was found, consisting of gastric achlorhydria, impaired absorption of xylose and vitamin A, and steatorrhea. Duodenal biopsies revealed varying degrees of chronic duodenitis and mucosal atrophy. There was poor correlation between structure and function. Following treatment with oral iron most of the abnormalities reverted to normal. A control group of 8 children with long-standing anemias not due to iron deficiency were subjected to similar studies, most of which yielded normal results. These observations indicate a diffuse and reversible enteropathy in children as a result of iron deficiency. The pathogenesis and practical implications are discussed.

Submitted on July 3, 1963
Accepted on July 29, 1963




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
A. OkcuoGlu Cavdar and A. Arcasoy
Hematologic and Biochemical Studies of Turkish Children With Pica: A Presumptive Explanation for the Syndrome of Geophagia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Hepatosplenomegaly and Hypogonadism
Clinical Pediatrics, April 1, 1972; 11(4): 215 - 227.
[Abstract] [PDF]