Second capsule endoscopy for patients with severe iron deficiency anemia

Patients with iron deficiency anemia are subjected to multiple endoscopic and radiologic examinations of the GI tract. If negative, some of the examinations are repeated, occasionally with positive findings. The diagnostic yield of a second capsule endoscopy in such patients is unknown. The aim of the current study was to assess the diagnostic yield of a second capsule endoscopy in patients with significant iron deficiency anemia and a previous negative evaluation.

Twenty patients with iron deficiency anemia (Hb < 10 g/dL) were enrolled. All had at least one normal evaluation of the GI tract, including capsule endoscopy. A second capsule endoscopy examination was offered to all patients.

The time between the first and the second capsule endoscopy ranged from 2 months to 1 year. Depending on the nature of an abnormality and its relevance to blood loss, the findings were classified as positive, suspicious, clinically irrelevant, or negative. In 7 patients, the second capsule endoscopy disclosed findings that were classified as either positive or suspicious findings, including arteriovenous malformations (2), flat polypoid lesion (1), edematous inflamed mucosa (1), erosions (1), and hemorrhagic gastritis (1). Lesions were located in the small intestine (5), the stomach (1), and the cecum (1). Based on the findings of the second capsule endoscopy, therapy was changed in two patients (10%).

A second capsule endoscopy should be considered for patients with severe iron deficiency anemia and negative initial evaluation.