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A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level
Published on: January 19, 2024
A patient with long-standing iron-deficient anemia
Annie On On Chan1, Kam Chuen Lai
1Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. aoochan@hkucc.hku.hk
Background:
A 36-year-old Chinese woman presented with cutaneous lupus and was incidentally found to have iron-deficient anemia. She had a history of iron-deficient anemia 13 years previously, for which extensive investigations were carried out; the results of which were all normal. The patient also had pulmonary tuberculosis at that time, for which she received a full course of treatment. She required periodic blood transfusions and iron supplements to maintain her hemoglobin levels. She was subsequently discharged to a family clinic for follow-up until the current presentation.
Investigations:
Upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, barium meal follow-through, small-bowel enema, (99m)Tc-labeled red-cell scan and double-balloon enteroscopy.
Diagnosis:
Iron-deficient anemia due to obscure gastrointestinal bleeding caused by two small-bowel hemangiomas.
Management:
Laparoscopic surgery.
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