Ultrasonography and doppler ultrasonography findings of children with iron deficiency anemia.

The aim of this study is to find out the ultrasonography (US) and Doppler US findings of liver, spleen and main vascular structures of children with iron decrease, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA).The liver and spleen sizes, portal vein and splenic vein diameters, the maximum (Vmax) and minimum (Vmin) speeds of left A. Carotis communis (CCA) and A. Carotis interna (ICA) and their pulsatility (PI) and resistive indexes (RI) of 122 patients measured with iron decrease, iron deficiency, IDA and 40 control who applied to pediatry policlinics. Power Doppler US was used.20 patients (35 %) were diagnosed with hepatomegaly and 3 patients (5 %) were diagnosed with splenomegaly having IDA.There was a small increase in terms of left CCA and İCA Vmax values among iron decrease, iron deficiency, IDA groups respectively, there was a statistically significant differences between control and iron deficiency groups in terms of CCA Vmin, ICA Vmax,Vmin, ICA PI, between control and IDA groups in terms of CCA Vmax,Vmin, CCA PI, ICA Vmax,Vmin, ICA PI.In conclusion, with the decrease of hemoglobin and increase of anemia an increase of CCA and ICA flows were observed and there was a slight increase in the value of PI. Hepatomegaly and infrequently splenomegaly can be seen in IDA cases probably due to susceptibility to infections. In order to find out accompanying diagnosis and pathology and to get good results, it may be useful to get abdominal US and Doppler US for patients with IDA.