Anemia in Severe Physically and Mentally Handicapped Patients

The Investigation of Iron Status

Abstract

Anemia is often complicated with severe physically and mentally handicapped patients (handicapped patients). For high quality of their life, we discussed the characteristics of their anemia compared with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children. One hundred twenty handicapped patients were evaluated and 52 patients (43.3%) had anemia. The normocytic, normochromic anemia was seen in 36.5% of the anemia patients and the IDA was seen in 38.5%. In handicapped patients, there were no significant differences in serum folic acid, vitamin B₁₂ and copper between the anemia group and the non-anemia group. The levels of Hb, serum iron and copper were significantly lower in the tube-feeding group than the non-tube-feeding group. In the group with IDA among handicapped patients, the average value of TIBC was 340 ± 46.4, μ g/dl and most of their TIBC levels were within normal range. The response to iron therapy was little effective, especially in the low-TIBC group (less than 350, μ g/dl). These findings indicate how we should give the balanced nutrition to the handicapped patients.