Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench

Abstract

Inflammation can lead to malabsorption of important micronutrients such as iron. Malabsorption and nutritional deficiency can be caused by a variety of pathological and environmental factors causing a range of other symptoms commonly caused by both H. pylori infection and coeliac disease (CD). National guidelines suggest the routine taking of duodenal biopsies to exclude CD when investigating patients for iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Studies suggest that in absence of positive antibodies, IDA is rarely caused by CD. Recent British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines discourage the routine duodenal biopsies in low risk cases but despite this guidance, taking duodenal biopsies for IDA is a common practice. Many studies have reported that H. pylori infection is associated with IDA even in patients with CD. In countries with low H. pylori prevalence we still detect more H. pylori than CD standing behind IDA. Despite the strong association between IDA and H. pylori, taking biopsies to diagnose H. pylori infection is not usually a routine part of the diagnostic workup to identify the etiology of IDA. In this review we will discuss the impact of H. pylori in IDA and highlight the possible gaps in identifying the IDA etiology.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Iron deficiency anaemia, Coeliac disease.

(Please cite as: Rostami-NejadM, AldulaimiD, LivettH, RostamiK. H.pylori associated with iron deficiency anemia; strongly evidence based but weakly reflected in practice. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench 2015;8(3):178-182).