Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Iron deficiency should not be accepted in patients with inflammatory bowel disease–a Scandinavian expert opinion

Detlie, Trond Espen ; Burisch, Johan ; Jahnsen, Jørgen ; Bonderup, Ole ; Hellström, Per M. ; Lindgren, Stefan LU and Frigstad, Svein Oskar (2025) In Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 60(5). p.430-438
Abstract

Aim: In this paper, we aim to explain the reason why iron deficiency (ID) is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), how to better apply diagnostic tools to uncover the state of ID as well as how to interpret the results, and not least, how to treat ID in this group of patients. Methods: This article is an expert review and opinion paper on a topic that is too often forgotten in clinical practice. We have not performed a systematic review, but we present the most important research allocated to the topic to substantiate an expert opinion. Results: This position paper summarises the pathophysiology of ID and gives recommendations on the monitoring and treatment of ID in IBD. ID with or without concurrent anaemia (IDA)... (More)

Aim: In this paper, we aim to explain the reason why iron deficiency (ID) is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), how to better apply diagnostic tools to uncover the state of ID as well as how to interpret the results, and not least, how to treat ID in this group of patients. Methods: This article is an expert review and opinion paper on a topic that is too often forgotten in clinical practice. We have not performed a systematic review, but we present the most important research allocated to the topic to substantiate an expert opinion. Results: This position paper summarises the pathophysiology of ID and gives recommendations on the monitoring and treatment of ID in IBD. ID with or without concurrent anaemia (IDA) is the most common systemic complication in patients with IBD, related to both disease activity and severity. It has consequences both for health-related quality of life and future course of disease of the IBD patient. Intravenous iron is an efficacious and well tolerated, but still underused, therapy for ID and IDA. Iron deficiency should be treated before symptoms of anaemia appear and quality of life is impacted. However, there is still limited awareness of how to detect and treat ID in clinical practice. Uncertainty regarding which diagnostic tests to use and how to interpret the results may also be responsible for variations in clinical practice. In addition, opinions on how to correct ID and IDA differ, in relation to both clinical efficacy and safety. Conclusion: The consequences of ID in patients with IBD are significant. Guidelines on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of ID should be implemented. IDA is a manifestation of severe ID and preventive strategies focusing on efficient treatment of ID regardless of the level of haemoglobin should therefore be explored.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
cell biology, IBD, IBD-basic, IBD-clinical, inflammatory bowel disease, Iron deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia, malabsorption-mucosal-function
in
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
volume
60
issue
5
pages
9 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:105002211282
  • pmid:40202208
ISSN
0036-5521
DOI
10.1080/00365521.2025.2487907
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
edc378d6-d03f-468e-aeec-50b5fcf74b9e
date added to LUP
2025-09-03 10:11:55
date last changed
2025-10-01 12:53:15
@article{edc378d6-d03f-468e-aeec-50b5fcf74b9e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: In this paper, we aim to explain the reason why iron deficiency (ID) is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), how to better apply diagnostic tools to uncover the state of ID as well as how to interpret the results, and not least, how to treat ID in this group of patients. Methods: This article is an expert review and opinion paper on a topic that is too often forgotten in clinical practice. We have not performed a systematic review, but we present the most important research allocated to the topic to substantiate an expert opinion. Results: This position paper summarises the pathophysiology of ID and gives recommendations on the monitoring and treatment of ID in IBD. ID with or without concurrent anaemia (IDA) is the most common systemic complication in patients with IBD, related to both disease activity and severity. It has consequences both for health-related quality of life and future course of disease of the IBD patient. Intravenous iron is an efficacious and well tolerated, but still underused, therapy for ID and IDA. Iron deficiency should be treated before symptoms of anaemia appear and quality of life is impacted. However, there is still limited awareness of how to detect and treat ID in clinical practice. Uncertainty regarding which diagnostic tests to use and how to interpret the results may also be responsible for variations in clinical practice. In addition, opinions on how to correct ID and IDA differ, in relation to both clinical efficacy and safety. Conclusion: The consequences of ID in patients with IBD are significant. Guidelines on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of ID should be implemented. IDA is a manifestation of severe ID and preventive strategies focusing on efficient treatment of ID regardless of the level of haemoglobin should therefore be explored.</p>}},
  author       = {{Detlie, Trond Espen and Burisch, Johan and Jahnsen, Jørgen and Bonderup, Ole and Hellström, Per M. and Lindgren, Stefan and Frigstad, Svein Oskar}},
  issn         = {{0036-5521}},
  keywords     = {{cell biology; IBD; IBD-basic; IBD-clinical; inflammatory bowel disease; Iron deficiency; iron deficiency anaemia; malabsorption-mucosal-function}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{430--438}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology}},
  title        = {{Iron deficiency should not be accepted in patients with inflammatory bowel disease–a Scandinavian expert opinion}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00365521.2025.2487907}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00365521.2025.2487907}},
  volume       = {{60}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}