Management of Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia in a Developed Country-A Multi-Center Experience from Croatia.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) continues to be a global public health concern, mostly in the developing countries. However, precise epidemiological data on childhood IDA in Croatia are lacking. In order to establish its frequency, underlying etiologies, the rationale for tertiary care visits, diagnostic practices, and current treatment regimens of IDA, medical records of children referred to pediatric hematologists for iron deficiency in a five-year period at tertiary institutions (Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, Osijek) throughout Croatia were retrospectively analyzed. Eight hundred and sixty-four children, predominately of preschool age, were referred mainly by the primary care pediatricians, who, in general, performed basic diagnostics but failed to initiate oral iron therapy in half of the patients. Approximately one-third of patients were symptomatic, with inadequate nutrition prevailing as underlying etiology. Dextriferron was the preferred iron formulation among hematologists, with a median dose of 5 mg/kg, with acceptable compliance rates (63.5-93.2%). Hospital admission rates varied among the centers (9.4-35%), and so did transfusion policies (6.4-22.9%). The greatest difference was observed in the frequency of parenteral iron administration (0.3-21.5%). In conclusion, the burden of childhood IDA, even in a high-income country, remains substantial, necessitating consistent implementation of national guidelines and additional education of primary health care providers.

Placental Findings in Infants Gestational Age < 34 Weeks and Impact on Short-Term Outcomes.

AIM: To analyse placental changes in infants' gestational age < 34 weeks and its correlation to short-term respiratory outcomes or death until hospital discharge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information regarding all in-house born preterm infants born before 34 weeks gestation and born from January 2009 until December 2014 were collected and included among others, placental pathology and relevant data on demographics and outcomes of infants. RESULTS: Placental abnormalities was found in 157/253 (65.05%) cases. Acute placental inflammation was found to be the most common in both groups of premature neonates, followed by maternal vascular underperfusion. Maternal vascular underperfusion was significantly more common in GA ≤ 27 weeks compared to infants GA 28-33 weeks (35.2% vs. 13.7%; p = 0.018). Similarly, chronic placental inflammation was more common in infants GA ≤ 27 weeks compared to infants GA 28-33 weeks (14.3% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.014). Infants with placental pathology had a lower median birth weight (1460g vs. 1754g; p = 0.001, and were of shorter median GA at birth (31 vs. 32; p = 0.001). Infants with any placental disease had higher rates of death until hospital discharge (10.2% vs. 3.1%; p = 0.039) and higher rates of any stage of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (41.4% vs. 26.0%; p = 0.013). There were no significant differences in mechanical ventilation rates, duration of mechanical ventilation and duration of supplemental oxygen therapy. CONCLUSION: Identifiable placental abnormalities were found in most infants born < 34 weeks gestation. Placental pathology is associated with increased rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and death until hospital discharge.

Severe Cranio-Cervical Stenosis in a Child with Saul-Wilson Syndrome: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Saul Wilson syndrome (SWS) is a rare congenital syndrome characterized by a variety of symptoms, mostly skeletal changes. Saul and Wilson were the first to describe children with extremely short stature and craniofacial dysmorphism. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 15-years-old boy with clinical and radiological characteristics of SWS. Genetic examination identified a pathogenic heterozygous variant in the COG4 gene. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a critical stenosis of the cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) which required surgical treatment to attempt sufficient neurological decompression. The patient underwent decompression of CCJ under general anesthesia. There was no significant radiological and clinical improvement during the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: SWS is presented as an extremely rare congenital disease in children. The clinical condition of our patient confined surgical possibilities, therefore further treatment in such patients should be appropriately evaluated.