Gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in men with unexplained anemia and low normal ferritin values

American Journal of Hematology
Sa A WangMichal G Rose

Abstract

Most practice guidelines recommend endoscopic evaluation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in men and postmenopausal women with anemia and a serum ferritin less than 20-40 ng/ml. The diagnostic yield of endoscopy in patients with anemia, no GI symptoms or signs, and low normal ferritin is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate the yield of upper and lower GI endoscopic evaluations in anemic patients with ferritin levels between 40 and 100 ng/ml. A retrospective review of patients' charts was conducted. Patients at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System who underwent GI endoscopic evaluation for the sole indication of anemia and ferritin in the low normal range (40-100 ng/ml) were included in this study. Incidence of pathology of the upper and lower GI tract was determined. We identified 54 male patients who had a ferritin level of 40-100 ng/ml and no GI symptoms or known GI bleeding. Upper GI findings (malignancy, peptic ulcers, Helicobacter pylori gastritis, arteriovenous malformations) were found in 14/47 cases (30%). Lower gastrointestinal findings, including large tubular adenomas and arteriovenous malformation, were identified in 3/53 cases (6.7%). Our study supports GI endoscopy in anemic patient...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 5, 2010·Clinical Medicine : Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London·Sheena MankodiDavid Reffitt
Sep 9, 2011·Digestive and Liver Disease : Official Journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver·Antonio CilonaMauro Annese
Nov 26, 2008·The American Journal of Medicine·Etienne JoostenMartin Hiele
Dec 15, 2017·European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology·Judith A KwakmanRené W M van der Hulst
Dec 14, 2011·European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology·Ken Liu, Arthur J Kaffes
Jun 24, 2016·European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology·Dan CarterBenjamin Avidan

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