✳️ Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the type of anemia typically seen in chronic blood loss from gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, or colonic polyps.This anemia is characteristically microcytic and hypochromic due to depleted iron stores from ongoing blood loss.

▶️ Chronic gastrointestinal bleeding is the most important cause of iron deficiency in men and postmenopausal women. Each mL of blood contains 0.4–0.5 mg of iron, so even occult bleeding from these lesions progressively depletes iron stores.

▶️ In patients with IDA referred for endoscopy, potentially bleeding lesions are identified in 62% of cases, including peptic ulceration in 19%.

▶️ Common upper gastrointestinal causes include erosions or ulcers related to aspirin and NSAIDs, as well as peptic ulcer disease, while lower gastrointestinal causes include colorectal cancer, angiodysplasia, and colonic polyps.

▶️ Recurrent blood loss accounts for up to 94% of IDA cases in adults. The diagnosis is established by a serum ferritin level less than 45 ng/mL (or less than 100 ng/mL in the presence of inflammation) along with anemia.

▶️ In men and postmenopausal women presenting with IDA, bidirectional endoscopy should be performed to identify the bleeding source.

ADA 2026 Update

✳️ Iron Deficiency Anemia ; Epidemiology, Screening, and Prevention Diagnosis and Evaluation Treatment Practice Improvement.

PDF 👇

Annals of Internal Medicine 13 jan 2026

Endoscopic Therapy for Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease 👇

▶️ Conclusion

In patients with UC escalated to advanced therapies, 5-ASA continuation was associated with decreased odds of achieving clinical remission compared to discontinuation, with no significant differences observed for secondary efficacy or safety endpoints.

Piles

Pitting & Non Pitting Edema

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