In iron deficiency anemia (synonyms: Achlorhydric anemia; anemia-iron deficiency; ; pallor; chlorosis; protein deficiency anemia; sideropenic anemia; microcytic hypochromic anemia; ICD-10-GM D50.-: Iron deficiency anemia) is a form of anemia (anemia) caused by the deficiency of iron. The trace element iron is essential for hemoglobin (blood pigment) formation.
Iron deficiency anemia belongs to hyporegenerative anemias, i.e. there is a disorder of erythropoiesis (formation of mature erythrocytes from hematopoietic stem cells of the hematopoietic bone marrow). It is the most common form of all anemias (80% of cases).
Typical of iron deficiency anemia is a decreased hemoglobin value (Hb; iron pigment), in which the mean hemoglobin content per erythrocyte (MCH ↓) is lower than normal and the mean erythrocyte individual volume (MCV ↓) is reduced. This is referred to as hypochromasia and classifies the anemia as a microcytic hypochromic anemia.
Daily iron loss is 1 mg in men, 2 mg in women of childbearing age, and 3 mg in pregnant women. For these reasons, a daily iron requirement of 10 mg in men, 10-15 mg in women of childbearing age, 30 mg in pregnant women, and 20 mg in lactating women is indicated. During pregnancy, iron should be prophylactically substituted. Likewise in premature and newborn infants with a birth weight < 2,500 g.
The differential diagnosis of bleeding anemia must often be distinguished from iron deficiency anemia. This is characterized by a reduced number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and a reduced hemoglobin concentration (blood pigment) in the blood. Bleeding anemia is caused by acute blood loss. The source of bleeding is primarily genital or gastrointestinal (gastrointestinal tract).
Sex ratio: males to females is 1: 4 (due to increased losses from menstruation, gravidity (pregnancy), and lactation (breastfeeding)).
Peak incidence: in young children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, and in menstruating girls/women beginning in adolescence until menopause (time of last menstrual period; usually between the ages of 47 and 52).
The prevalence (disease incidence) is 10% of women of childbearing age (in Europe). In developing countries, more than 50% of women of childbearing age have iron deficiency anemia. The prevalence worldwide is approximately 25% of people.
Course and prognosis: Iron deficiency anemia may be due to a serious underlying disease (see under “Causes”). Therefore, it is important to find the cause, especially to exclude chronic bleeding or tumor diseases (cancer). In addition to causal therapy, symptomatic treatment, i.e., iron substitution (in the form of tablets or drinking solutions; in rare cases, iron is administered intravenously), is used.
