Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Question 1

where is iron absorbed from?

Answer 1

Duodenum and jejunum

Question 2

General cause of IDA

Answer 2

Reduced oral intake
Reduced absorption
Bleeding
Increased demand

Question 3

Most common cause of IDA in children?

Answer 3

Insufficient intake

Question 4

Problems with iron absorption causing IDA?

Answer 4

PPIs
Coeliac
Crohn’s

Question 5

Increased demand causing IDA?

Answer 5

Pregnancy

Question 6

Blood loss causing IDA?

Answer 6

Menorrhagia

Bleeding - colon cancer, oesophagitis, gastritis)

Question 7

What is transferrin [saturation]

Answer 7

Binding protein which transports iron in blood

Transferrin saturation is an indicator of total iron in body

Question 8

Calculation for transferrin saturation

Answer 8

Transferrin saturation = serum iron / TIBC

Question 9

What is total iron binding capacity

What does this mean?

Answer 9

The total space on transferrin for iron to bind

Marker for how much iron is in the blood (easier to measure than transferrin)

Question 10

What is [serum] ferritin

Answer 10

Form in which iron is stored in cells
Extra is released during inflammation
Low = iron deficiency. Can be normal if there is iron deficiency & inflammation

Question 11

What would a picture of iron overload look like?

Answer 11

Increased values for transferrin saturation, serum ferritin, and serum iron

Low TIBC

Question 12

Causes of iron overload

Answer 12

Supplementation of iron

Acute liver damage

Question 13

Ix of IDA

Answer 13

If not clear cause (menorrhagia, pregnancy)

OGD / colonoscopy to rule out GI Ca

Question 14

Treatment options for IDA

Answer 14

Blood transfusion
Iron transfusion
Oral iron

Question 15

Blood transfusion in IDA - comments

Answer 15

Corrects anaemia but not underlying deficiency

Question 16

When can’t you give iron transfusion in IDA

Answer 16

Septic patient (feeds bacteria)

Question 17

When can’t you give oral iron in IDA?

Answer 17

Malabsorptive cause