AIM:

To evaluate the outcomes of the duodenal biopsy done for the assessment of mucosal disease in patients investigated for iron deficiency anemia (IDA), underwent upper and lower gastrointestinal system endoscopies that revealed no remarkable macroscopic pathologic findings.

METHOD:

One hundred and ninety adult patients with IDA who had inspection and biopsy of the stomach and second part of the duodenum during endoscopy. The control group consisted of 237 subjects, who had undergone upper and lower gastrointestinal system screening for any reason, and in whom duodenal biopsy was done despite the assessment of no remarkable pathological finding. Endoscopic and histopathologic findings were compared between groups. 

RESULT:

Patient’s mean age was 43.39± 14.00 years (17 and 87 years) and with the mean age of for the study and control groups mean age was 43.20±14.35 years. Of the subjects in the study group, 75.3% and 59.9% of subjects in the control group were female. Celiac disease was determined in 2.6% (n=5) subjects in the study group. Three women patient with celiac had IDA with no diarrhea or dyspepsia- like complaints. Two men patient with celiac disease had IDA and diarrhea. Routine duodenal biopsy was statistically significant in patients investigated for IDA (P=0.017). Other gastric mucosal changes didn’t differ in patients with IDA than normal subjects. Atrophic gastritis and H. pylori gastritis didn’t influence iron status in these patients.

CONCLUSION:

Duodenal biopsy should perform in all patients referred to gastroscopic examination for iron deficiency anemia.

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