Malabsorption as a Cause of Iron Treatment Failure in Infants

Condition(s) targeted: Iron Deficiency; Malabsorption

Intervention: Metronidazole (Drug); Blood tests (Procedure)

Phase: N/A

Status: Completed

Sponsored by: HaEmek Medical Center, Israel

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Ariel Koren, MD, Study Director, Affiliation: Pediatric Hematology Unit, Ha'Emek Medical Center
Carina Levin, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Pediatric Hematology Unit - Ha'Emek Medical Center
Tania Hanchis, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Pediatric Dpt B - Ha'Emek Medical Center

Infants should receive prophylacatic iron supplementation since age 4 months till one year. Patients suffering from malabsorption, mainly Giardia infestation may develop iron deficiency resistent to further iron treatment. The purpose of this study is to assess the incidence of malabsorption in those infants and to examine the results of empiric treatment with metronidazole.

Official title: Malabsorption as a Cause of Iron Treatment Failure in Infants - A Clinical Observational Study

Study design: Diagnostic, Non-Randomized, Open Label, Uncontrolled, Single Group Assignment, Efficacy Study

Primary outcome: Hgb level

Secondary outcome:

Iron level

Ferritin Level

Minimum age: 6 Months. Maximum age: 4 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- All infants referred to the Pediatric Hematology Unit because lack of response to iron

treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients diagnosed with specific malabsorption causes like Celiac or Cystic Fibrosis.

Pediatric Hematology Unit and Pediatric Dpt B - HaEmek Medical Center, Afula 18101, Israel

Starting date: May 2006
Ending date: July 2006
Last updated: April 4, 2007