W M Simmonds, Y Awuku, C Barrett, M Brand, K Davidson, D Epstein, E Fredericks, S Gabriel, S Grobler, C Gounden, L Katsidzira, V J Louw, V Naidoo, C Noel, E Ogutu, N Ramonate, N Seabi, M Setshedi, J Van Zyl, G Watermeyer, C Kassianides
BACKGROUND: Over 30% of the world's population is anaemic, with a significant proportion of these being iron deficient. As iron deficiency (ID) anaemia in men and post-menopausal women is mostly caused by gastrointestinal blood loss or malabsorption, the initial evaluation of a patient with ID anaemia involves referral to a gastroenterologist. The current drive towards patient blood management in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)prescribes that we regulate not only the use of blood transfusion but also the management of patients in whom the cause of iron loss or inadequate iron absorption is sought...
February 2, 2024: South African Medical Journal