Anaemia

Blood loss from the intestine is a common cause of anaemia and for this reason many patients are referred to a gastroenterologist. Iron deficiency anaemia can sometimes be the only sign of a serious underlying problem including stomach or bowel cancer where the early stages of the disease process are otherwise silent. Urgent referral and subsequent investigation is therefore recommended for most patients. Many patients are investigated with either a combination of gastroscopy and colonoscopy, CT colonography or other investigation. Most do not have cancer but perhaps another explanation for anaemia such as gastric or duodenal ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, or angiodysplasia (prominent blood vessels that can bleed). Some patients have no intestinal disease demonstrated by gastroscopy and colonoscopy and may then have subsequent investigation of the small bowel using capsule enteroscopy. Our consultants can help to diagnose the cause of anaemia, look for underlying conditions that may require treatment, as well as advise on subsequent treatment of anaemia that could involve dietary advice, oral iron supplementation or on occasions intravenous iron infusion or blood transfusion.