RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM FERRITIN LEVEL AND ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER IN CHILDREN ATTENDING ALEXANDRIA UNIVERSITY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder in childhood. Its prevalence in children and adolescents is around 5.3% worldwide. ADHD is characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that affects multiple domains of life cause significant functional impairment.ADHD imposes various kinds of pressures on families and communities. ADHD is attributed to the interplay of social, environmental, neurobiological, and genetic factors. Iron is essential for many important biological processes. It functions as a cofactor in the metabolism of many neurotransmitters like dopamine. Its deficiency plays a role in ADHD pathogenesis. Serum ferritin is a reliable indicator of iron storage in tissues such as the brain.We aimed to study serum ferritin levels in children with ADHD, and the relationship between it and the severity of the disease.This case-control study was conducted on (100) children aged from six to twelve years (50 children diagnosed with ADHD based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and were recruited from Pediatric Neurodevelopmental outpatient clinic of Alexandria University Children Hospital Smouha and 50 sex and age-matched siblings of group I who are not fulfilling the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria of ADHD as a controls group II).