Hypoferritinemia and iron deficiency in youth with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome

Chan, A., Karpel, H., Spartz, E. et al. Hypoferritinemia and iron deficiency in youth with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. Pediatr Res 89, 1477–1484 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-1103-3

Conclusion: Hypoferritinemia and iron deficiency appear to be more common in PANS patients. More research is needed to confirm and understand this association.

• 79 subjects (mean age of PANS onset of 8.7 years)
• Hypoferritinemia was observed in 27% and three quarters occurred during a PANS flare
• PANS patients with hypoferritinemia had worse global impairment, more comorbid inflammatory diseases, and exhibited a chronic course of PANS illness than those without
• The estimated prevalence of iron deficiency was 3–8% in the PANS cohort, 1.4–2.0-fold higher than in the age- and sex-matched U.S. population.
• Hypoferritinemia was commonly observed during a disease flare but not associated with dietary or demographic factors.
• In patients with PANS and iron deficiency, clinicians should consider possibility of inflammation as the cause especially if iron deficiency cannot be explained by diet and blood loss.