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Query: UMLS:C0240066 (iron deficiency)
 7,156 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Iron deficiency, the most common cause of anemia, is prevalent in 10 percent to 30 percent of the world's population. Inadequate intake of iron may be an important causative factor, particularly when the body requires more iron than usual (e.g., during infancy, early childhood, adolescence, pregnancy and periods of blood loss). The popular increase of fiber in diets may increase the incidence of iron-deficiency anemia because too much fiber in the diet renders available iron unabsorbable. Symptoms in children include skin or conjunctival pallor, excessive sleepiness, learning disabilities, diminished attention span, tiredness, irritability or inappropriate behavior, and pica. Adults may have shortness of breath, decrease in exercise tolerance, palpitations, tachycardia, angina, congestive heart failure, orthopnea and edema. Iron deficiency occurs in sequential states and is measured by many laboratory tests. The levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit are both decreased, while the red blood cell count may be normal initially, but will decrease as the iron-deficiency state continues. The steps of treatment include correction of the underlying disorder, administration of the amount of iron needed and observation of the response to treatment.
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PMID:A guide to primary care of iron-deficiency anemia. 143 77

Current guidelines give evidence-based advice on how best to manage anaemia in patients with renal disease, but these guidelines do not consider individual patient needs, so tailoring anaemia management to each patient still remains a challenge for the treating physician. Two case studies are described that illustrate some of the key factors that need to be considered. The first case emphasizes that haemoglobin (Hb) targets recommended in current guidelines may not suit all patients. The patient had been stably maintained on subcutaneous epoetin therapy with an average Hb concentration of >13.0 g/dl because he developed angina symptoms when his Hb level fell to 12.2 g/dl. Iron deficiency was identified as the likely cause of falling Hb in this patient. After the patient's iron supplementation was increased, his Hb level was normalized back to >13.0 g/dl without increasing the epoetin dose, and the angina symptoms were resolved. The second case involved a pre-dialysis patient with diabetes, who required a higher dose of epoetin after beginning concomitant antihypertensive treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Previously, the treatment of renal anaemia in pre-dialysis patients has not been the focus of attention. Two ongoing randomized controlled trials have been designed to study early initiation of epoetin treatment in pre-dialysis patients and will provide much needed information in this area.
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PMID:Individualizing anaemia treatment: a discussion of case histories. 1595 26

A relationship is described between H. pylori infection and diseases localized beyond the gastrointestinal tract, for example: atherosclerosis, stenocardia, cerebral stroke, chronic urticaria, rosacea, hemicrania and in, children with height deficit or anaemia, caused by iron deficiency. Two cases of sideropenic anaemia in children resistant to oral iron are presented. Gastrointestinal tract symptoms were not observed and most probably the reason for anaemia was H. pylori infection. The first 14 years old patient with normal menstrual periods had been treated for four months by oral iron, without any effect (Hgb 10.2 g%, Fe 36.8%, ferritin < 10.8 mg%). On endoscopy of upper gastrointestinal tract there were macroscopic typical changes of H. pylori infection in antrum part of the stomach. On histological examination of biopsy segments inflammation of stomach mucosa in average intensification and H. pylori infection was confirmed. Recovery caused normalization of iron in the organism and of erythrocyte morphology. There was no recurrence of anaemia in long-term observation of the girl. A 14 years old boy treated without success for severe sideropenic anaemia (Hgb 7.1 g%), with positive family history (father has gastric ulcer). In spite of lack of gastrointestinal tract symptoms, on endoscopy there were features of chronic active hemorrhagic inflammation of stomach mucosa with H. pylori infection. Oral iron and effective eradication (proton pump inhibitor, amoxycillin, clarithromycin), achieved normalization of morphological changes. Recurrence of anaemia has not been observed.
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PMID:[Helicobacter pylori infection as a cause of sideropenic anaemia resistant to treatment - own observation]. 1682 22

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) remains prevalent in Australia and worldwide, especially among high-risk groups. IDA may be effectively diagnosed in most cases by full blood examination and serum ferritin level. Serum iron levels should not be used to diagnose iron deficiency. Although iron deficiency may be due to physiological demands in growing children, adolescents and pregnant women, the underlying cause(s) should be sought. Patients without a clear physiological explanation for iron deficiency (especially men and postmenopausal women) should be evaluated by gastroscopy/colonoscopy to exclude a source of gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly a malignant lesion. Patients with IDA should be assessed for coeliac disease. Oral iron therapy, in appropriate doses and for a sufficient duration, is an effective first-line strategy for most patients. In selected patients for whom intravenous (IV) iron therapy is indicated, current formulations can be safely administered in outpatient treatment centres and are relatively inexpensive. Red cell transfusion is inappropriate therapy for IDA unless an immediate increase in oxygen delivery is required, such as when the patient is experiencing end-organ compromise (eg, angina pectoris or cardiac failure), or IDA is complicated by serious, acute ongoing bleeding. Consensus methods for administration of available IV iron products are needed to improve the utilisation of these formulations in Australia and reduce inappropriate transfusion. New-generation IV products, supported by high-quality evidence of safety and efficacy, may facilitate rapid administration of higher doses of iron, and may make it easier to integrate IV iron replacement into routine care.
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PMID:Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anaemia: a clinical update. 2149 54