EN
TÜRKÇE
Poster - 37
Iron deficiency anemia is frequent in children with esophageal atresia
C Faure, K Kelu, C Daoust, A Aspirot
Sainte Justine Hospital, Montreal, Canada
Children with esophageal atresia (EA/TEF) can develop iron deficiency anemia due to feeding disorders, esophagitis, and long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).We hypothesized that children who undergo surgery for EA/TEF are prone to developing anemia.
Methods Cross-sectional study conducted in a cohort of EA/TEF children followed from 9/2001 to 12/2024. All patients who had a complete blood count at the time of an upper GI endoscopy were included. Age, prematurity, presence of esophagitis (macroscopic or microscopic), and other histological anomalies (eosinophilic esophagitis [EoE], microscopic esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus) were recorded, along with antacid treatment (PPI). Blood samples collected within 3 months following major surgery were excluded.
Results A total of 222 blood samples were collected from 119 children (67 boys) at a median (range) age of 56 months (3–226). Anemia (as defined by the WHO) was found in 50 children (22%) at a median age of 52 months (range: 3–158), which was significantly higher than the 7% expected in Canadian children (WHO Global Database on Anaemia). Type C EA was reported in 84% of the anemia group versus 83% in the non-anemia group, while Type A was found in 16% versus 17%, respectively. In the anemia group, 41% were premature compared to 50% in the non-anemia group. PPI use was more frequent in the anemia group (89% vs. 63%, p=0.01, Chi-square test). Peptic esophagitis was observed in 8% of the anemia group versus 4% of the non-anemia group, Barrett’s esophagus with gastric metaplasia in 14% versus 10%, and EoE in 18% versus 12% (p=NS).
Conclusion Anemia is common in EA/TEF patients at any age. No clear risk factors related to the malformation itself or to esophageal histological anomalies were identified. However, PPI treatment appears to be a risk factor.