ANEMIA ASSOCIATED TO ACUTE POST STREPTOCO CCAL GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Thirty-three children with post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis , age ($) over bar x: 8.3 years (range: 6 - 12) were studied prospecti vely. Mean initial hematocrit (Hct) was 31.6% with 90% showing Hct und er the normal lower limit for this age group. Reticulocyte index (RI) was < 0.5 in half of the cases. Serum iron concentration, total iron b inding capacity (TIBC) and percentaje of transferrin saturation were n ormal for this age group although 75% of the children had increased se rum ferritin levels. At the time of discharge, Hct increased to 35.1% but 44% still had anemia. Hct increased spontaneously for 105 days sta bilizing at 38%. Based on Hct changes, 3 groups were defined: Group I (3 individuals): normal upon discharge; Group II (19): partial recover y at discharge, slow recovery stabilizing after 105 days; Group III (1 1): lower Hct, stower recovery but with RI significantly higher than g roup 11 (0.96 vs 0.45 p < 0.01). Our data suggesst that although hemod ilution is present in all, it may be considered the solely factor only in 3 cases (Group I). in group II, evidence of bone marrow depression was indicated by the low RI. On the other hand, the intense anemia th at could not be justified only by hemodilution and marrow depression i n group III, suggests other pathogenic factors