The effect of iron supplementation on visual-evoked potentials in infants with iron-deficiency anemia

• Published in: Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) Vol. 47; no. 3; p. 132
• Main Authors: Sarici, S U, Okutan, V, Dündaröz, M R, Serdar, A M, Akin, R, Deda, G, Gökçay, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.2001
• Subjects: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - drug therapy; Evoked Potentials, Visual - drug effects; Female; Humans; Infant; Iron - therapeutic use; Male; Turkey; Visual Perception - drug effects; Turkey
• ISSN: 0142-6338
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/47.3.132

Flash visual-evoked potentials were studied in 20 infants with iron-deficiency anemia to determine the effect of iron deficiency on visual function by using visual-evoked potentials in this type of anemia. After iron therapy for 12 weeks, visual-evoked potentials were retested in these otherwise healthy infants. All infants showed an excellent hematological response to iron therapy. Post-treatment visual-evoked potential N2 latencies (negative deflections) decreased significantly compared to the pre-treatment values (p < 0.05). These results suggest that iron-deficiency anemia causes subclinical visual impairment, and visual-evoked potentials may be a useful non-invasive means of detecting subtle effects of nutritional deficiencies and monitoring the nutritional status of infants.