Dramatic and prompt efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication in the treatment of severe refractory iron deficiency anemia in adults

Abstract

Dear Editor, Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most common nutritional diseases worldwide. The basic treatment for IDA is oral iron medication; however, some patients with IDA are occasionally refractory to this type of therapy [1]. Recently, the role of Helicobacter pylori in the etiology of IDA has become a focus of considerable interest [2, 3]. Although the association of H. pylori with IDA has been examined extensively, most studies have focused on mild IDA in school-aged children and young people [4–6]. Here, we report two adult cases of severe IDA refractory to oral iron therapy in which the anemia was dramatically and promptly improved by H. pylori eradication (Fig. 1).