Gastrointestinal Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Publication Date: August 15, 2020
Last Updated: July 5, 2024

Recommendation Statements 

In patients with anemia, the AGA recommends using a cutoff of 45 ng/mL over 15 ng/mL when using ferritin to diagnose iron deficiency. (High, Strong)
Comment: In patients with inflammatory conditions or chronic kidney disease, other laboratory tests such as C-reactive protein, transferrin saturation, or soluble transferrin saturation, may be needed in conjunction with ferritin to diagnose iron deficiency anemia.
612
In asymptomatic postmenopausal women and men with iron deficiency anemia, the AGA recommends bidirectional endoscopy over no endoscopy. (Moderate, Strong)
612
In asymptomatic premenopausal women with iron deficiency anemia, the AGA suggests bidirectional endoscopy over iron replacement therapy only. (Moderate, Conditional (weak))
Comment: Patients who place a high value on avoiding the small risk of endoscopy, particularly those who are young and might have other plausible reasons for IDA, and a low value on the very small risk of missing a gastrointestinal malignancy would reasonably select an initial course of iron replacement therapy and no initial bidirectional endoscopy.
612
In patients with iron deficiency anemia without other identifiable etiology after bidirectional endoscopy, the AGA suggests noninvasive testing for Helicobacter pylori, followed by treatment if positive, over no testing. (Low, Conditional (weak))
612
In patients with iron-deficiency anemia, the AGA suggests against the use of routine gastric biopsies to diagnose atrophic gastritis. (Very Low, Conditional (weak))
612
In asymptomatic adult patients with iron deficiency anemia and plausible celiac disease, the AGA suggests initial serologic testing, followed by small bowel biopsy only if positive, over routine small bowel biopsies. (Very Low, Conditional (weak))
Comment: Celiac disease is a well-recognized cause of iron deficiency anemia, even in asymptomatic patients, and, therefore it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia.
612
In uncomplicated asymptomatic patients with iron deficiency anemia and negative bidirectional endoscopy, the AGA suggests a trial of initial iron supplementation over the routine use of video capsule endoscopy. (Very Low, Conditional (weak))
Comment: Caution needs to be applied in patients with comorbid conditions where the identification of small bowel pathology will change medical management, such as the use of anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy.
612

Recommendation Grading

Overview

Title

Gastrointestinal Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Authoring Organization

American Gastroenterological Association

Publication Month/Year

August 15, 2020

Last Updated Month/Year

November 5, 2024

Supplemental Implementation Tools

Document Type

Guideline

External Publication Status

Published

Country of Publication

US

Target Patient Population

Patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA)

Target Provider Population

Primary care providers, gastroenterologists, and other specialists, policy makers, and patients

Inclusion Criteria

Male, Female, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Older adult

Health Care Settings

Ambulatory, Hospital, Laboratory services, Outpatient

Intended Users

Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant

Scope

Diagnosis, Assessment and screening

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D007501 - Iron, D018798 - Anemia, Iron-Deficiency

Keywords

environmental control, IDA

Source Citation

Ko, C., Siddique, S., Patel, A., Harris, A., Sultan, S., Altayar, O., & Falck-Ytter, Y. (2020). AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Gastrointestinal Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia. Gastroenterology, 159(3), 1085-1094. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.06.046

Supplemental Methodology Resources

Technical Review