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Brain iron levels in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot MRI study

Brain iron levels in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot MRI study
Brain iron levels in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot MRI study
Objective. Brain iron deficiency has been supposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Available studies assessing iron in ADHD are based on serum ferritin, a peripheral marker of iron status. To what extent serum ferritin correlates with brain iron (BI) is unclear. The main aim of this study was to compare BI, estimated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the putamen, pallidum, caudate, and thalamus, between children with and without ADHD. The secondary aim was to assess the correlation between serum ferritin and BI levels. Methods. Thirty-six children (18 with and 18 without ADHD, the latter including nine healthy controls and nine psychiatric controls) completed MRI and blood sampling. Brain iron levels were estimated by imaging T2*. Results. Children with ADHD showed significantly lower estimated BI in right and left thalamus compared to healthy controls. Estimated BI did not differ significantly between children with ADHD and psychiatric controls. Children with ADHD had significantly lower levels of serum ferritin than healthy as well as psychiatric controls. Serum ferritin and T2* values did not correlate significantly in most regions. Conclusions. Low iron in the thalamus may contribute to ADHD pathophysiology.
ADHD, iron, children, thalamus, magnetic resonance imaging
1562-2975
223-231
Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Azoulay, Robin
4c50b2c2-1aa6-4531-9fbe-661ac8eb8486
Castellanos, F. Xavier
699a8e5d-77f7-41dd-8dba-50f2dece7dd8
Chalard, François
fc97bb80-f838-42df-b0e2-02b4d4e6d069
Lecendreux, Michel
51135545-1b33-4540-8ba9-1e8a1cc57173
Chechin, David
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Delorme, Richard
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Sebag, Guy
486560ef-19ab-44ea-8c29-aa8921c1df6d
Sbarbati, Andrea
e84eaf6b-84a4-4967-b1c6-42b996922a8c
Mouren, Marie-Christine
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Bernardina, Bernardo Dalla
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Konofal, Eric
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Cortese, Samuele
53d4bf2c-4e0e-4c77-9385-218350560fdb
Azoulay, Robin
4c50b2c2-1aa6-4531-9fbe-661ac8eb8486
Castellanos, F. Xavier
699a8e5d-77f7-41dd-8dba-50f2dece7dd8
Chalard, François
fc97bb80-f838-42df-b0e2-02b4d4e6d069
Lecendreux, Michel
51135545-1b33-4540-8ba9-1e8a1cc57173
Chechin, David
9b41ac9b-6670-443a-a179-b81ef05b4b5f
Delorme, Richard
d949be49-fea2-48cb-aefa-f635926d2259
Sebag, Guy
486560ef-19ab-44ea-8c29-aa8921c1df6d
Sbarbati, Andrea
e84eaf6b-84a4-4967-b1c6-42b996922a8c
Mouren, Marie-Christine
9c60d8ab-fe73-4121-91a8-4522492cd6d5
Bernardina, Bernardo Dalla
5325874e-719c-4763-8a4a-f9ffe2288e12
Konofal, Eric
6328bf1a-74f1-4438-8c14-333ccc8931eb

Cortese, Samuele, Azoulay, Robin, Castellanos, F. Xavier, Chalard, François, Lecendreux, Michel, Chechin, David, Delorme, Richard, Sebag, Guy, Sbarbati, Andrea, Mouren, Marie-Christine, Bernardina, Bernardo Dalla and Konofal, Eric (2012) Brain iron levels in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot MRI study. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 13 (3), 223-231. (doi:10.3109/15622975.2011.570376).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective. Brain iron deficiency has been supposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Available studies assessing iron in ADHD are based on serum ferritin, a peripheral marker of iron status. To what extent serum ferritin correlates with brain iron (BI) is unclear. The main aim of this study was to compare BI, estimated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the putamen, pallidum, caudate, and thalamus, between children with and without ADHD. The secondary aim was to assess the correlation between serum ferritin and BI levels. Methods. Thirty-six children (18 with and 18 without ADHD, the latter including nine healthy controls and nine psychiatric controls) completed MRI and blood sampling. Brain iron levels were estimated by imaging T2*. Results. Children with ADHD showed significantly lower estimated BI in right and left thalamus compared to healthy controls. Estimated BI did not differ significantly between children with ADHD and psychiatric controls. Children with ADHD had significantly lower levels of serum ferritin than healthy as well as psychiatric controls. Serum ferritin and T2* values did not correlate significantly in most regions. Conclusions. Low iron in the thalamus may contribute to ADHD pathophysiology.

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Published date: 2012
Keywords: ADHD, iron, children, thalamus, magnetic resonance imaging
Organisations: Clinical Neuroscience

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Local EPrints ID: 380405
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/380405
ISSN: 1562-2975
PURE UUID: dd8c3c1b-bc26-4832-9c95-ddf7397ff348
ORCID for Samuele Cortese: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5877-8075

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Date deposited: 20 Aug 2015 15:57
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:52

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Contributors

Author: Samuele Cortese ORCID iD
Author: Robin Azoulay
Author: F. Xavier Castellanos
Author: François Chalard
Author: Michel Lecendreux
Author: David Chechin
Author: Richard Delorme
Author: Guy Sebag
Author: Andrea Sbarbati
Author: Marie-Christine Mouren
Author: Bernardo Dalla Bernardina
Author: Eric Konofal

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