GE Port J Gastroenterol. 2020 Jul;27(4):244-254.doi: 10.1159/000505071. Epub 2020 Jan 10.

Ana Isabel Lopes ^1 2, Sara Azevedo ², José Cabral ³, Maria Gomes Ferreira ⁴, Piedade Sande-Lemos ⁵, Ricardo Ferreira ⁶, Eunice Trindade ⁷, Rosa Lima ⁸, Henedina Antunes ^9 10 11

Author information

• ¹Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, Lisbon Academic Medical Centre (CAML), Lisbon, Portugal.
• ²Gastroenterology Unit, Pediatric Department, Hospital de Santa Maria, University Hospital Centre of North Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
• ³Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Dona Estefânia Hospital, University Hospital Centre of Central Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
• ⁴Pediatric Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta EPE, Almada, Portugal.
• ⁵Pediatric Department, Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca EPE, Amadora, Portugal.
• ⁶Pediatric Department, Pediatric Hospital, Coimbra Hospital and Universitary Centre (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.
• ⁷Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal.
• ⁸Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Centro Materno Infantil do Norte, Porto Hospital and Universitary Centre, Porto, Portugal.
• ⁹Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Unit and Clinical Academic Center 2CA-Braga, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal.
• ¹⁰Life and Health Sciences Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
• ¹¹ICVS/3B's Associated Laboratory, Braga-Guimarães, Portugal.

Abstract

Anemia is a common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both in pediatric and in adult patients. Iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia in patients with IBD. Anemia is a clinically relevant comorbidity, with impact on patients' quality of life and it should be timely diagnosed and adequately treated. Currently, an active treatment approach is the recommended strategy, with evidence showing efficacy and safety of intravenous iron formulations. However, evidence in pediatric age remains scarce and no clinical recommendations exist for the diagnosis and treatment of this particular age group. The present document represents the first national consensus on the management of anemia in pediatric IBD and is therefore particularly relevant. The authors anticipate that the proposed recommendations will be useful in daily clinical practice for diagnosing and managing iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in the pediatric population with IBD.