Elli L¹, Norsa L², Zullo A³, Carroccio A⁴, Girelli C⁵, Oliva S⁶, Romano C⁷, Leandro G⁸, Bellini M⁹, Marmo R¹⁰, Soncini M¹¹, Monica F¹², De Francesco V¹³, Paulon E¹², Cappellini MD¹⁴, Motta I¹⁴, Ferretti F¹⁵, Orlando S¹⁵, Mansueto P¹⁶, Buscarini E¹⁷, Manfredi G¹⁷, Agostoni C¹⁸, Tomba C¹⁹, Cannizzaro R²⁰. Dig Liver Dis. 2019 Feb 11. pii: S1590-8658(19)30058-1. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2019.01.022. [Epub ahead of print]

Author information

1 Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Division/Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano. Electronic address: luca.elli@policlinico.mi.it.

2 Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplantation, ASST "Pope Giovanni XXIII", Bergamo.

3 Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Nuovo Regina Margherita" Hospital, Rome.

4 Internal Medicine, "Giovanni Paolo II" Hospital, Sciacca; Biomedical Department of Internal and Specialist Medicine - DiBiMIS, University of Palermo, Palermo.

5 Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Hospital of Busto Arsizio, Busto Arsizio.

6 Paediatric Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, University "La Sapienza" of Rome, Roma.

7 Paediatric Gastroenterology and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina.

8 National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. De Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Italy.

9 Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa.

10 Gastroenterology ed Endoscopy, Polla Hospital, Salerno.

11 Internal Medicine, "Alessandro Manzoni" Hospital, ASST-Lecco, Lecco.

12 Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste.

13 Gastroenterology Unit, "Riuniti" Hospital, Foggia, Italy.

14 Rare Diseases Center, Department of Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano.

15 Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Division/Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano.

16 Biomedical Department of Internal and Specialist Medicine - DiBiMIS, University of Palermo, Palermo.

17 Gastroenterology Unit, ASST Ospedale Maggiore di Crema, Crema.

18 Paediatric Intermediate Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano.

19 Gastroenterology 2, ASST Papa Giovannin XXIII, Bergamo.

20 Oncological Gastroenterology Division, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano.

Abstract

Anaemia is a common pathologic condition, present in almost 5% of the adult population. Iron deficiency is the most common cause; other mechanisms can be involved, making anaemia a multi-factorial disorder in most cases. Anaemia being a frequent manifestation in the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, patients are often referred to gastroenterologists. Furthermore, upper and lower endoscopy and enteroscopy are pivotal to the diagnostic roadmap of anaemia. In spite of its relevance in the daily clinical practice, there is a limited number of gastroenterological guidelines dedicated to the diagnosis of anaemia. For this reason, the Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Endoscopists and the Italian Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition commissioned a panel of experts to prepare a specific guideline on anaemia and its diagnostic roadmap in the gastroenterological scenario. The panel also discussed about the potential involvement of gastroenterologists and endoscopists in the management of patients with anaemia, with particular attention to the correct use of investigations. The panel paid particular attention to practical issues with the aim to support gastroenterologists in their clinical practice when dealing with patients with anaemia.