IRON DEFICIENCY

Iron deficiency:
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The main thing can cause a microcytic anemia is iron deficiency.

In the duodenum and jejunum where iron is absorbed and transported in the plasma and bound with transferring.

1mg of iron everyday is lost in urine-sweat and faeces.

Women lose iron during premenopausal and menses.

In general the main cause of the iron deficiency is blood lose from the gastrointestinal tract in general and from the uterus in females during growth and pregnancy.  

Other reasons of iron deficiency:

Small bowel disease.

Poor intake.

Symptoms:

Dysphagia - angular stomatitis - hair lose-spoon shaped nails.

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Investigations:

Blood account:

Low hemoglobin Hb and MCV.

Blood film:

Microcytic and hypochrmic.

Blood serum:

Iron is low – iron bending capacity is high.

Ferrtitin is low which reflects iron stores in organism.
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Treatment:

Treat the main cause.

Oral iron tablets for six months.

Parenteral iron used for intolerant patient or poor response oral iron.

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Internal Medicine
D.Zafer Maklad
zafernm@yahoo.com