Delayed CNS maturation in iron-deficient anaemic infants.

Direct evidence of CNS developmental alterations in iron-deficient anaemic (IDA) infants was obtained. Twenty 3-15-month-old IDA and 20 non-IDA infants (age and gender matched), healthy in every other respect, were studied. Complete blood and iron kinetics tests determined an IDA status. Psychomotor development was assessed through the test of Rogers and co-workers [Rogers SJ, Donovan CM, D'Eugenio D, Brown SL, Whiteside E, Moersch MS, Schafer DS. (eds) Developmental Programming for Infants and Young Children, Vol 2. University of Michigan Press, 1981] and under the 10-20 International System qEEG was performed (sleep/stage II). A Pearson's correlation test was applied between haematological, psychomotor and broad band EEG variables, and through ANOVA psychomotor and AP means were compared. IDA infants showed lower scores in cognition, fine motor and social/emotional areas, higher delta/theta and lower alpha power. Most correlations between haematological/psychological variables were positive. Delta/theta correlations were negative with self-care/gross and motor items while alpha/beta AP showed positive correlations with psychomotor and haematological variables. A clear association was found between EEG alterations and a low haematological/iron profile leading to a delayed psychomotor development.