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Management of Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review.

Medicine
June 1, 2015
Ole Haagen Nielsen et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral and intravenous iron supplementation for treating iron-deficiency anemia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Results Summary

The study found that both oral and intravenous iron therapies effectively restore iron stores and hemoglobin levels in IBD patients, with intravenous iron being preferable during disease flares due to impaired intestinal absorption. Neither therapy exacerbated IBD symptoms, and intravenous iron could be safely used during active disease and alongside biologics.

Population

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and iron-deficiency anemia.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
oral iron therapy
neutral
iron deficiency anemia
patients with quiescent disease stages and trivial iron deficiency anemia
-
should be preferred
#1
intravenous iron supplementation
neutral
aggravated anemia or flares of IBD
patients with aggravated anemia or flares of IBD
-
may be of advantage
#2
oral supplementation in iron-deficiency anemia
increase
iron stores and the hemoglobin level
-
-
should be administered with a target to restore/replenish
#3
intravenous iron supplementation
neutral
iron-deficiency anemia
patients with IBD flares and inadequate responses to or side effects with oral preparations
-
is the therapy of choice
#4
oral therapy
no change
clinical course of IBD
-
-
seems to not exacerbate
#5
intravenous iron therapy
no change
clinical course of IBD
-
-
seems to not exacerbate
#6
intravenous iron therapy
neutral
-
patients with active disease stages and concomitantly with biologics
-
can be administered
#7
Abstract

Anemia is the most frequent complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but anemia, mostly due to iron deficiency, has long been neglected in these patients. The aim was to briefly present the pathophysiology, followed by a balanced overview of the different forms of iron replacement available, and subsequently, to perform a systematic review of studies performed in the last decade on the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in IBD. Given that intravenous therapies have been introduced in the last decade, a systematic review performed in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and the websites of WHO, FDA, and EMA covered prospective trials investigating the management of iron-deficiency anemia in IBD published since 2004. A total of 632 articles were reviewed, and 13 articles (2906 patients) with unique content were included. In general, oral supplementation in iron-deficiency anemia should be administered with a target to restore/replenish the iron stores and the hemoglobin level in a suitable way. However, in patients with IBD flares and inadequate responses to or side effects with oral preparations, intravenous iron supplementation is the therapy of choice. Neither oral nor intravenous therapy seems to exacerbate the clinical course of IBD, and intravenous iron therapy can be administered even in active disease stages and concomitantly with biologics. In conclusion, because many physicians are in doubt as to how to manage anemia and iron deficiency in IBD, there is a clear need for the implementation of evidence-based recommendations on this matter. Based on the data presented, oral iron therapy should be preferred for patients with quiescent disease stages and trivial iron deficiency anemia unless such patients are intolerant or have an inadequate response, whereas intravenous iron supplementation may be of advantage in patients with aggravated anemia or flares of IBD because inflammation hampers intestinal absorption of iron.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Anemia, Iron-DeficiencyHumansInflammatory Bowel DiseasesIron
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy80/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations57
Citations/Year5.7
Relative Citation Ratio2.37
NIH Percentile79.3%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score2.02
Normalized Score0.84
Related Supplements
Management of Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel D... | Panacea Index