Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with extraintestinal manifestations in more than one-quarter of patients. Anemia is one of the most common concerns. Patients with IBD and comorbid iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are at risk for hospitalization and surgery, and IDA impacts health-related quality of life. IDA in IBD is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Prompt treatment has the potential to improve patient quality of life and clinical outcomes. Although the treatment goals for IDA in IBD are well-defined, selecting a treatment is not as straightforward. Traditional oral iron replacement therapies are generally only recommended in patients with mild anemia who do not have active inflammatory disease. Novel oral iron formulations may circumvent some of the limitations associated with traditional oral products.