Tratamiento de la anemia con eritropoietina y hierro en enfermedad renal crónica / Erythropoietin and iron in anemia management in chronic renal failure

Anemia is one of the most common manifestations of Chronic Renal Failure (CRF), specially during the dialysis period. Growth failure and a high cardiovascular morbimortality are 2 of the most important consequences. Objective: To present a review of the current concepts in diagnosis and management of anemia in pediatric CRF patients. Erythropoietin (EPO) deficit is the main cause of anemia, requiring exogenous replacement through intravenous or subcutaneous route, in hemodialyzed or peritoneodialyzed patients respectively. A longer half-life allows to use EPO one or twice weekly when given by intraperitoneal route, in order to reach a target hemoglobin between 11-12 gr/dl, a level that avoids the cardiovascular risk associated to higher levels as described in adult CRF population. In pediatrics, 100-300 U/kg/weekly can be used to reach the desired hemoglobin levels, always monitoring about the potential complications of EPO, specially arterial hypertension. If anemia seems to be resistent to EPO therapy, iron deficit should be considered and properly treated, as described in this article. Ferritin and saturation of hemoglobin need to be routinely monitored to diagnose iron status in these patients, values less than 100 ng/ml and 20 percent respectively require exogenous suplementation. Iron doses in pediatrics still need to be defined. Anemia needs to be evaluated and treated in all CRF children, properly management must always be instaured in order to prevent its undesired effects.

La anemia es una de las complicaciones más frecuentes en los pacientes pediátricos con Enfermedad Renal Crónica (ERCR), especialmente en etapa de diálisis. Sus consecuencias van desde un aumento de la morbilidad cardiovascular, hasta retraso del crecimiento en algunas experiencias analizadas. Se presenta una revisión de las recomendaciones actuales del diagnóstico, evaluación y tratamiento de la anemia en ERCR. Su principal causa es el déficit de la hormona Eritropoietina, la cual debe ser administrada en forma exógena para lograr una respuesta óptima. En los pacientes en hemodiálisis (HD) se prefiere la vía intravenosa, una dosis en cada sesión de HD, dado su mejor tolerancia, aunque esta vía requiere dosis mayores, su vida media es más corta, y representa costos más elevados. En niños en diálisis peritoneal (DP) la vía de elección es subcutánea, de mayor duración que la vía i.v., y puede ser administrada 1-2 veces por semana. En pediatría, dosis de mantención entre 100 - 300 U/kg/semana han demostrado ser eficaces para lograr una hemoglobina entre 11 y 12 gr/dl, nivel considerado seguro desde el punto de vista cardiovascular, requiriendo sin embargo, una estricta supervisión médica dado las potenciales complicaciones, entre las que destaca la hipertensión arterial de difícil manejo y que requiere disminución o suspensión de la terapia. Entre las causas más frecuentes e importantes de una respuesta terapéutica insuficiente está el déficit en los depósitos de fierro del organismo. Estos depósitos se consideran adecuados al presentar el paciente una ferritina >100 ng/ml y una saturación de hemoglobina >20 por ciento. Bajo estos valores se hace necesario el aporte exógeno para lograr una ferritina ideal entre 200 y 500 ng/ml, aporte cuya dosificación en el caso de niños en diálisis está aún por definirse. Se recomienda que el control de exámenes para evaluar anemia y la respuesta al tratamiento se realice, al menos, de forma trimestral.

Biokinetics of inorganic iron in female volunteers

Iron biokinetics of absorption and disposition were investigated following a single oral dose of 150 mg ferrous sulfate to 10 healthy female volunteers. The blood and serum samples collected at different time intervals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Total iron in blood showed about 25% lower values than those given in literature. In blood, iron showed mean +/- SD value of Tmax 2.37 +/- 0.17 hours, Cmax 422 +/- 26.9 mcg.m/L t1/2mcg 0.54 +/- 0.03 hour, kabs 1.29 +/- 0.08/h, AUC 6923 +/- 1624 h.mg/L, CI 0.36 +/- 0.00 mL/h/Kg, Vd 5.36 +/- 0.02 mL/Kg and t1/2B 9.54 +/- 2.07 hour. In serum, iron showed mean ' SD values of Tmax 6.73 +/- 0.00 hour, Cmax 10.8 +/- 0.57 mcg.m/L, t1/2mcg 8.05 +/- 1.32 hour, kabs 0.09 +/- 0.01/h, AUC 412 +/- 91.8 h.mg/L, CI 6.80 +/- 0.07 mL/h/Kg, Vd 82.5 +/- 0.55 mL/Kg and t1/2B 8.59 +/- 0.96 hour

Scurvy: a case report.

An 8-year-old child with cerebral palsy came with progressive purpuric rash affecting the trunk and legs. He had tenderness on palpation of his extremities. Physical examination revealed a moderately pale and cachectic boy. There was bleeding per swollen gums and petichiae on the hard palate. Generalized multiple discrete palpable petichiae spots at hair follicles along the whole body, more on both legs, were observed. He also had tenderness on palpation of his extremities. His hemoglobin was 6.6 g/dl. Platelet count and coagulogram were normal. Roentgenographic findings showed generalized osteoporosis, metaphyseal white line of distal femur, proximal tibia. proximal fibula, distal radius, and distal ulna with submetaphyseal lucency bilaterally. Skin biopsy showed dilated hair follicles, filled with keratinous material and a small corkscrew hair. A diagnosis of scurvy was made; and vitamin C at a dosage of 300 mg per day was given. His swollen gums, bleeding per gums and muscle tenderness improved within 2 days. Perifollicular hemorrhage, follicular hyperkeratosis, and anemia improved in 2 and 3 weeks respectively.