Prognostic value of serum ferritin and erythropoietin in protein energy malnutrition in infants and young Egyptian children

ABSTRACT

Erythropoiesis was evaluated in 40 infants and young Egyptian children from 6 months up to 3 years old, diagnosed as protein energy malnutrition and in 10 healthy infants and young children as controls. The hemoglobin and hematocrit values were significantly lower than the control group. While the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were decreased, but not to a significant level. The white blood cell count increased to a significant level. To evaluate liver function, alanine aminotransferase was increased, but not to a significant level than the control. The serum albumin was decreased significantly. While the serum ferritin and erythropoietin were increased significantly. A low concentration of serum ferritin is characterized only in iron deficiency anemia, however in certain states as liver affection, serum ferritin concentration may be elevated out of proportion to changes in storage in iron. The anemia of protein energy malnutrition is due to mixed deficiencies [e.g. riboflavin, iron deficiency] resulting in ineffective erythropoietin despite of its increased level