[Iron deficiency anemia in hospitalized males and postmenopausal females. Diagnostic approach]

Abstract

Chronic bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract is assumed to be the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia in men and in postmenopausal women.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the most frequent causes of chronic gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with iron deficiency anemia and to suggest a diagnostic endoscopic strategy that could be useful in clinical practice.

Methods: We studied 66 patients (48 women and 18 men), with a mean age of 73 who were admitted to our hospital from 1993 to 1996 because of unrelated signs and symptoms. Iron deficiency anemia was detected in a routine laboratory test. Patients had no symptoms of digestive disease. Children, pre-menopausal women and patients with a history of digestive disease of anemia of known origin were excluded. Diagnostic procedures included oral panendoscopy, colonoscopy and, in some cases, contrast radiology. In all patients follow-up was carried out between 3 and 36 months after discharge. Patients were considered to have improved when hemoglobin values were normal, according to standard laboratory values.

Results: At least one lesion responsible for anemia was found in 46 patients (70%). Of these 46 patients, 31 presented a lesion in the upper digestive tract and 13 presented a lesion in the lower digestive tract. Colon cancer was diagnosed in eight patients and gastrointestinal cancer in one. In the remaining two patients, peptic ulcer and colo-rectal cancer were found simultaneously. A diagnosis of "minor" lesions was made in 15 patients (23%) and in five patients (7%) no lesions were found that could have caused the bleeding. Both groups (minor lesions and undiagnosed patients) improved with iron therapy.

Conclusions: Upper gastrointestinal lesions were the most frequent cause of iron-deficiency anemia, although colonoscopy is the best procedure for detecting gastrointestinal cancer and should be performed despite evident upper gastrointestinal bleeding.