Effect of iron deficiency anemia on renal tubular function in childhood

Little is known about renal function in children with iron deficiency anemia. The purpose of this study was to investigate renal tubular function in these children. We compared renal tubular function in 20 children with iron deficiency anemia with 20 healthy age-matched controls. Blood and urine samples were obtained for hematological and biochemical analysis. Mean fractional excretion of sodium and mean urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase/creatinine were significantly higher in the children with iron deficiency anemia than in controls (P<0.05). Hemoglobin levels were negatively correlated with urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase/creatinine (r= -0.44, P=0.015), but were not correlated with fractional excretion of sodium (r= -0.29, P=0.13). There was no correlation between urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase/creatinine and fractional excretion of sodium (r=0.32, P=0.09). The results suggest that children with iron deficiency anemia have impaired renal tubular function.