Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is known as the most common nutritional problem. Owing to the important role of iron in brain energy metabolism, neurotransmitter function and myelin formation, IDA may lead to behavioral, developmental and cognitive dysfunctions.
Objective: To investigate the electrophysiological effects of IDA on the peripheral nervous system, and to evaluate whether the possible electrophysiological abnormalities are reversible with appropriate doses of iron therapy, or not.
Materials and Methods: Electrophysiological evaluations were performed on 52 patients with newly diagnosed IDA and 30 age-matched healthy controls. The electrophysiological evaluations were repeated after 3 months of oral iron therapy.
Results: Four (7.69%) patients had polyneuropathy due to the electrophysiological evaluations. Except 1 patient with polyneuropathy, the electrophysiological findings of all patients were found to return to normal ranges after 3 months of oral iron therapy.
Conclusions: The detection of iron responsive neuropathic processes in IDA patients led us to think that IDA may cause peripheral nervous system involvement. It is important to emphasize the investigation of iron deficiency anemia as an etiological factor while planning a treatment for neuropathy patients. In cases where IDA is present, it would be benefical to treat IDA with iron replacement before applying other treatment options in neuropathy.
Key Words: Iron Deficiency Anemia, Electrophysiological Evaluations, Oral Iron Therapy, Polyneuropathy
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