[Sideropenia]

The most frequent deficiency state in our population, the sideropenia, is caused by decreased intake, increased losses and increased need of iron. In certain groups of persons, in whom sideropenias are particularly frequent, a prevention of iron deficiency is to be recommended by the application of iron preparations, above all during puberty and gravidity, in strongly menstruating women and in persons who more than twice a year act as blood donors. The quantity of iron which is to be added in hypoferric anaemic is easily to be calculated from the existing deficit of haemoglobin; the substitution of iron mostly demands an oral therapy lasting several weeks, in more severe anaemias started by intravenous applications of iron, if necessary.