Investigation of iron defi ciency anaemia

Abstract

Iron defi ciency anaemia (IDA) is an important, common clinical condition and 8-15% of these patients will be diagnosed with a gastrointestinal cancer. IDA is defi ned as haemoglobin below the lower limit of normal, in the presence of characteristic iron studies. This article will discuss the causes and clinical diagnosis of iron defi ciency, including interpretation of common laboratory tests that differentiate this from other causes of anaemia. We suggest an initial approach for investigating the cause of iron defi ciency in these patients and also consider the subsequent treatment and indications for further investigation.