Protocolo diagnóstico y tratamiento de la anemia microcítica en el adolescente

Abstract

Microcytic anaemia is the most frequent type of anaemia in teenagers, and iron-deficiency anaemia is the most common. Differential diagnosis should be made with other microcytic anaemias such as heterozygous thalassaemia and inflammation anaemia. Iron deficiency is common in teenagers due to their increased needs for growth and menstruation. Iron-deficiency anaemia is treated with oral iron. If a microcytic anaemia does not respond to oral iron, it is important to rule out diseases that are associated with malabsorption. The most common causes of refractory iron deficiency are Helicobacter pylori infection, autoimmune atrophic gastritis and coeliac disease. Once these have been discounted, differential diagnosis with other more rare microcytic anaemias is important, such as hereditary heme synthesis and iron metabolism disorders. Among these, iron-refractory iron deficiency anaemia,IRIDA, is worth noting.