Anemia and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Too often anemia is considered a rare or unimportant manifestation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, over the last 10 years a number of studies have been conducted and the most relevant conclusions obtained are: (1) anemia is quite common in IBD; (2) although in many cases anemia parallels the clinical activity of the disease, many patients in remission have anemia, and iron, vitamin B12 and/or folic acid deficiency; (3) anemia, and also iron deficiency without anemia, have important consequences in the clinical status and quality of life of the patient; (4) oral iron can lead to gastrointestinal intolerance and failure of treatment; (5) intravenous iron is an effective and safe way to treat iron deficiency; (6) erythropoietin is needed in a significant number of cases to achieve normal hemoglobin levels. Thus, the clinician caring for IBD patients should have a comprehensive knowledge of anemia, and apply recently published guidelines in clinical practice.
Gastroenterology Unit, Clinical Universitary Hospital Lozano Blesa, CIBEREHD, Avenida San Juan Bosco 15, Zaragoza 50009, Spain. fgomollon@gmail.com
Fernando
F
Gomollón
Javier P
JP
Gisbert
D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004921:Erythropoietin; D007501:Iron