{"id":1741,"date":"2025-12-20T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vitamed.test\/iron-deficiency-anemia-diagnosis-and-treatment\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T14:22:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T10:22:30","slug":"iron-deficiency-anemia-diagnosis-and-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/iron-deficiency-anemia-diagnosis-and-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Anemia <\/strong>is defined as a decrease in hemoglobin concentration and\/or the number of red blood cells (RBCs) per unit volume of blood. IDA is classified as a microcytic, hypochromic anemia. Iron deficiency disrupts hemoglobin synthesis, suppresses erythropoiesis, and leads to tissue hypoxia and nutritional deficiencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"vitamed-youtube-short\" title=\"Vitamed Medical Center - \u054e\u056b\u057f\u0561\u0574\u0565\u0564 \u0532\u056a\u0577\u056f\u0561\u056f\u0561\u0576 \u053f\u0565\u0576\u057f\u0580\u0578\u0576\u0576\u0565\u0580\" width=\"422\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RsvPVDptxbw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Risk Factors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Young children<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pregnancy and lactation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vegetarian diet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use of certain medications (e.g., proton pump inhibitors)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Presence of polymorbid conditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Etiolog<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary cause of IDA is an imbalance between iron demand and its supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Main causes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Insufficient iron intake:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inadequate nutrition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vegetarian or vegan diets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Blood loss (chronic hemorrhages of various localizations):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nasal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gastrointestinal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uterine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Renal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Intravascular hemolysis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Impaired iron absorption:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Atrophic gastritis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Celiac disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gastrectomy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medication-related (e.g., PPI use)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Increased iron requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Infancy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pregnancy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lactation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Symptoms may be absent in the early stages. Later, patients may present with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>General weakness, fatigue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pallor of skin and mucous membranes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Palpitations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dyspnea on exertion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dizziness, headaches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poor concentration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Constipation or diarrhea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pica (craving for non-food items)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Angular stomatitis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nail and hair dystrophy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Diagnosis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Clinical findings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pallor of skin and mucous membranes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cold extremities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Signs of trophic disturbances in hair and nails<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Possible features of heart failure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Laboratory parameters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hemoglobin &lt;120 g\/L in women, &lt;130 g\/L in men<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MCV &lt; 80 fL<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MCHC &lt; 31%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ferritin &lt; 15 \u00b5g\/L<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decreased serum iron<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transferrin saturation &lt; 15\u201320%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Elevated total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reticulocytes: normal or elevated in the presence of blood loss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Note:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ferritin can be falsely elevated in inflammation \u2014 measure C-reactive protein (CRP) to interpret correctly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hemoglobin levels may be falsely elevated in smokers, patients with chronic hypoxia, or those living at high altitudes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Additional Tests in Confirmed IDA Cases<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Colonoscopy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gynecological consultation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thyroid function testing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>IgA anti-EmA and IgA anti-TTG antibodies to rule out celiac disease<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image article-content-thumbnail-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/yerkati-deficit.jpg\" alt=\"IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IDA&nbsp; Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>a. Etiologic Therapy<\/strong><br>Identification and treatment of the underlying cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>b. Nutritional Support<\/strong><br>Iron-rich diet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Beef, poultry, fish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vegetables and fiber-rich foods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vitamin C-rich foods enhance iron absorption<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dairy, tea, coffee, and carbonated drinks impair absorption \u2014 should be consumed at least 4 hours before or after iron intake<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>c. Pharmacologic Treatment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oral Iron Therapy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recommended elemental iron dose: 150\u2013200 mg\/day<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Higher doses are ineffective as absorption is saturated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examples:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ferrous sulfate 325 mg, 2\u20133 times\/day<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ferrous fumarate 324 mg, twice\/day<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ferrous gluconate 300 mg, 2\u20133 times\/day<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Common side effect: constipation\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recommend hydration, fiber intake, sometimes PPIs if GI intolerance is present<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Parenteral Iron Therapy \u2014 Indicated when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The patient cannot tolerate oral forms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Malabsorption due to GI disorders<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chronic blood loss<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iron requirements exceed absorption capacity (e.g., heavy uterine bleeding)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oral treatment has failed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>d. Replenishment of Iron Stores<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Minimum treatment duration: 3 months to fully restore iron reserves<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>e. Relapse Prevention<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Long-term monitoring and control of underlying risk factors<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Follow-Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>After normalization of hemoglobin: checkups every 3 months for 1 year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If stable: every 6 months<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iron stores are usually replenished about 4 weeks after hemoglobin correction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IDA is classified as a microcytic, hypochromic anemia. Iron deficiency disrupts hemoglobin synthesis, suppresses erythropoiesis, and leads to tissue hypoxia and nutritional deficiencies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173,171],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-en","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1741"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6470,"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1741\/revisions\/6470"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitamed.production.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}