Incidence of iron-deficiency anaemia in infants in a prospective study in Jordan

A high prevalence of iron-deficiency anaemia has been reported in Jordanian infants. A prospective study of infants in downtown Amman examined the rel ationship between anaemia in pregnancy and iron deficiency in infancy. The iron status of infants born to 107 anaemic (Hb <11 g/dl) and 125 non-anaemi c mothers was reviewed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Indicators to define iron- deficiency anaemia were Hb <11 g/dl and either plasma ferritin <12 mu g/l o r zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) > 35 mu g/dl whole blood. Haemoglobin electroph oresis excluded haemoglobinopathy. There was 72% iron-deficiency anaemia th roughout the year, significantly higher in infants born to anaemic mothers (81%; n = 91) compared with controls (65%; n = 112). At 12 months, 72% of t he infants tested (n = 195) were anaemic. While 57% were identified as iron -deficient by research criteria of either ferritin or ZPP, only 37% were id entified by ferritin alone, 40% by ZPP alone and 29% if both ferritin and Z PP were required to meet criteria. Most infant anaemia was identified as du e to iron deficiency, supporting contextual setting as assisting diagnosis: infants in developing countries are recognised as vulnerable to iron defic iency. Using multiple criteria, more cases were identified when either ferr itin or ZPP were abnormal than when one alone, or both parameters were requ ired to meet research criteria.