by Elana Gotkine

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with anemia or iron deficiency among children, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in Diagnostics.

Vasile Valeriu Lupu, Ph.D., from the "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iasi, Romania, and colleagues examined the presence of anemia as a result of pediatric GERD in 172 children.

The researchers found that 23 of the patients with GERD also had anemia, showing a moderate, significant correlation (r = −0.35). Cases with GERD also had significantly lower levels of serum iron (F = 8.46).

"GERD is accompanied by a degree of iron deficiency that opens the way to iron deficiency anemia. Considering the fact that anemia can be one of the signs of gastroesophageal reflux disease, especially among pediatric patients, this complication should not be neglected due to its long-term effects in a child's development and further in adult life," the authors write. "When faced with a case of hypochromic hyposideremic anemia in which other causes have been excluded, the clinician should consider it as a result of a gastroesophageal reflux if the patient presents signs and symptoms suggestive for this gastrointestinal pathology, and also if the anemia does not respond to oral iron therapy."

More information: Vasile Valeriu Lupu et al, Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Diagnostics (2022). DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13010063

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