Daniel S Tseng1, Dan Li2,3, Sri M Cholleti1, Julia C Wei3, Yves Jodesty4, Hung-Viet Pham4. 1. Department of Adult and Family Medicine, Campbell Medical Offices, CA. 2. Department of Gastroenterology, Santa Clara Medical Center, CA. 3. Division of Research, Oakland, CA. 4. Department of Adult and Family Medicine, Santa Clara Medical Center, CA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A large number of patients with iron deficiency anemia have no known cause of their anemia despite a full evaluation. Optimal management and follow-up for this issue is unclear. Results of previous studies have implicated Helicobacter pylori infection as a potential cause of iron deficiency anemia. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether H pylori infection could be a cause of unexplained iron deficiency anemia. METHODS: All adult patients with both unexplained iron deficiency anemia and H pylori infection diagnosed between January 1, 2008 and April 30, 2015 were identified from Kaiser Permanente Northern California's electronic medical records database and were followed-up for up to 2 years. We employed bivariate statistics to analyze demographic and clinical characteristics between H pylori treatment groups (treated and untreated). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the odds of continued presence of anemia at follow-up. RESULTS: Of 508 subjects who fit our inclusion criteria, 408 subjects were treated for H pylori. The median initial level of hemoglobin was 10.5 g/dL and ferritin was 7.0 ng/mL. No difference existed in the continued presence of iron deficiency anemia at follow-up between those treated for H pylori and those not treated (24.3% vs 26.5%, p = 0.71). Both groups had improved levels of hemoglobin (25.4% mean increase in treated vs 27.5% mean increase in untreated) at follow-up. CONCLUSION: In contrast to the findings of previous studies, we found no evidence that H pylori is involved in causing iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia resolved in most subjects regardless of H pylori treatment status.
BACKGROUND: A large number of patients with iron deficiency anemia have no known cause of their anemia despite a full evaluation. Optimal management and follow-up for this issue is unclear. Results of previous studies have implicated Helicobacter pylori infection as a potential cause of iron deficiency anemia. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether H pylori infection could be a cause of unexplained iron deficiency anemia. METHODS: All adult patients with both unexplained iron deficiency anemia and H pylori infection diagnosed between January 1, 2008 and April 30, 2015 were identified from Kaiser Permanente Northern California's electronic medical records database and were followed-up for up to 2 years. We employed bivariate statistics to analyze demographic and clinical characteristics between H pylori treatment groups (treated and untreated). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the odds of continued presence of anemia at follow-up. RESULTS: Of 508 subjects who fit our inclusion criteria, 408 subjects were treated for H pylori. The median initial level of hemoglobin was 10.5 g/dL and ferritin was 7.0 ng/mL. No difference existed in the continued presence of iron deficiency anemia at follow-up between those treated for H pylori and those not treated (24.3% vs 26.5%, p = 0.71). Both groups had improved levels of hemoglobin (25.4% mean increase in treated vs 27.5% mean increase in untreated) at follow-up. CONCLUSION: In contrast to the findings of previous studies, we found no evidence that H pylori is involved in causing iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia resolved in most subjects regardless of H pylori treatment status.