[Iron storage in infants at 2 and 8 months of age]. / Estudios de la reserva de hierro en el lactante menor a los dos y ocho meses de edad.

For to establish the probability of the early identification of the iron deficient in the infant, we evaluate the correlation between the serum ferritin (SF) values at two and eight months of age. It included 57 infants, 30 cases with SF higher than 20 ng/mL (group I), eight cases with SF between 12-20 ng/mL (group II) and 19 infants with SF lower of 12 ng/mL (group III); the addition of two late groups result in 27 cases with SF lower of 20 ng/mL (group IV). None cases had SF lower 20 ng/mL at two months of age. The correlation between SF values and hemoglobin (Hb) at two and eight months of age, the Hb of the infants deficients had better correlation (0.602 P = 0.006). The SF not had statistic correlation. For to establish if the groups had the same values of SF and Hb at two months on age, the SF values were in the group III vs group I were 154.1 and 274.6 ng/mL (P = 0.004) respectively. This data indicate that the infants that development severe iron deficiency to eight months of age, may predict this quantify the SF at two months of age.

[Usefulness of erythrocyte indices in the study of iron storage in infants]. / Utilidad de los índices eritrocitarios en el estudio de la reserva de hierro del lactante menor.

For establishment correlation between erythrocyte indices and serum ferritin (SF), to identify infants at eighth months of age, with iron normal corporal stores, were studied 112 infants; 40 cases had severe deficient iron stores (SF < 12 ng/mL), 17 cases with "moderate" deficient iron stores (SF 12-20 ng/mL) and 55 infants with normal iron stores. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) was altered in the 40.1%, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 29.5% and hemoglobin (Hb) 6.2%. In severe deficient iron stores, the MCH, with abnormal values had minor specificity (0.62), that MCV (0.88). With a SF < 20 ng/mL, specificity of the MCV was 0.92. Simultaneous alteration on MCH and MCV had similar specificity (0.92) and predictive positive values. With abnormal values of CMH + MCV or MCV alone, were established high probability for identify infants with normal iron stores.