Australian Doctor Australian Doctor 27th October 2017 | Page 19

PULL-OUT SECTION COMPLETE HOW TO TREAT QUIZZES ONLINE www.howtotreat.com.au INSIDE Iron homeostasis Epidemiology Pathogenesis Signs and symptoms Diagnosis Differential diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia Treatment Case studies THE AUTHOR DR ANASTAZIA KEEGAN consultant haematologist and transfusion medicine specialist, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Melbourne, Vic. Iron deficiency Introduction IRON is essential for numerous biological functions, including cel- lular respiration, energy produc- tion, DNA synthesis and cellular proliferation. People of all ages can present with myriad non-specific symptoms due to iron deficiency and/or iron deficiency anaemia. Thus, an understanding of iron homeostasis, pathogenesis of defi- ciency, investigations required for diagnosis, and the treatment regi- mens available are essential for eve- ryday practice. Iron deficiency can range from a simple reduction in the body’s total iron stores through to sympto- matic iron deficiency anaemia, due to extended periods of inadequate iron for erythropoiesis. Iron deficiency can result from www.australiandoctor.com.au a multitude of causes and must be investigated. Causes include insuf- ficient dietary iron intake, poor iron absorption from the gut, increased iron requirements and chronic blood loss. cont’d next page Copyright © 2017 Australian Doctor All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, email: [email protected] 27 October 2017 | Australian Doctor | 19