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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2013; 19(26): 4166-4171
Published online Jul 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i26.4166
Published online Jul 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i26.4166
Helicobacter pylori infection as a cause of iron deficiency anaemia of unknown origin
Helena Monzón, Montserrat Forné, Maria Esteve, Mercé Rosinach, Carme Loras, Jorge C Espinós, Josep M Viver, Fernando Fernández-Bañares, Departments of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa, 08221 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
Antonio Salas, Departments of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa, 08221 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
Montserrat Forné, Maria Esteve, Mercé Rosinach, Carme Loras, Josep M Viver, Antonio Salas, Fernando Fernández-Bañares, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28006 Madrid, Spain
Author contributions: Monzón H, Fernández-Bañares F and Forné M contributed to the study concept and design, analysis and interpretation of data, obtained funding, drafting of the manuscript, statistical analysis; Monzón H, Forné M, Esteve M, Rosinach M, Loras C, Espinós JC, Viver JM and Fernández-Bañares F contributed to the acquisition of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, approval of final version; Salas A contributed to the histopathological evaluation; Fernández-Bañares F and Forné M made the study supervision.
Supported by Grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain, PI07/0748; A Grant from the “Fundación Mutua Madrileña”, Spain
Correspondence to: Fernando Fernández-Bañares, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitari Mutua Terrassa, University of Barcelona, Plaza Dr Robert 5, 08221 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. ffbanares@mutuaterrassa.es
Telephone: +34-937-365050 Fax: +34-937-365043
Received: February 5, 2013
Revised: April 16, 2013
Accepted: June 1, 2013
Published online: July 14, 2013
Revised: April 16, 2013
Accepted: June 1, 2013
Published online: July 14, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: Data on the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication on adult patients with iron-refractory or iron-dependent anaemia of previously unknown origin are scarce, and thus the frequency of H. pylori infection as the cause of anaemia in that setting is unknown. Resolution of iron-deficient anaemia (IDA) was observed in 32 out of the 84 H. pylori eradicated patients (38.1%). In all of them there was no relapse after a mean follow-up of 21 ± 2 mo. Thus, H. pylori infection was considered the aetiology of IDA in these cases. H. pylori infection as the aetiology of IDA was greater in men plus postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women (75.0% vs 23.3%, P < 0.0001).