Iron deficiency anemia is a common cause of anemia and a common precipitant to radiological investigation.
Epidemiology
Amongst men and postmenopausal women, the incidence in the developed world is around 2%. Among premenopausal women, the incidence is greater and in most cases, investigation is not required.
Pathology
Etiology
Causes may be related to reduced iron input, failure of storage or excessive losses:
- inadequate stores at birth
- insufficient dietary iron
- failure to absorb iron, e.g. malabsorption such as celiac disease
- excessive iron demands due to blood loss
- polycythemia rubra vera (PRV)
- cyanotic congenital heart disease
Investigations should include:
- urinalysis
- celiac screening
- upper GI endoscopy (UGIE)
- sigmoidoscopy unless malignancy or celiac disease is diagnosed with UGIE
- colonoscopy may replace sigmoidoscopy in some centers
