Journal article
Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anaemia: A clinical update
Medical Journal of Australia, Vol.193(9), pp.525-532
2010
Abstract
• 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.
Details
- Title
- Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anaemia: A clinical update
- Authors/Creators
- S-A Pasricha (Author/Creator)S.C. Flecknoe-Brown (Author/Creator)K.J. Allen (Author/Creator)P.R. Gibson (Author/Creator)L.P. McMahon (Author/Creator)J.K. Olynyk (Author/Creator)S.D. Roger (Author/Creator)H.F. Savoia (Author/Creator)R. Tampi (Author/Creator)A.R. Thomson (Author/Creator)E.M. Wood (Author/Creator)K.L. Robinson (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Medical Journal of Australia, Vol.193(9), pp.525-532
- Publisher
- Australasian Medical Publishing Company
- Number of pages
- 8
- Identifiers
- 991005542378007891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Metrics
58 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.184 Physiology & Metals
- 1.184.573 Iron Metabolism
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nutrition & Dietetics
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine