Investigating iron status in microcytic anaemia

Editor—Some points in the article on investigating iron status in microcytic anaemia by Galloway and Smellie have an impact on endoscopy services and two week waiting list referrals from general practitioners for investigation of anaemia.¹ While most referred patients have at least a full blood count and haemoglobin indices done at time of referral, ferritin has rarely been measured. A simple coeliac disease screen and testing for haemoglobinopathies in the appropriate ethnic groups would also pick up a considerable number of patients who can then avoid unnecessary endoscopy, especially colonoscopy, and the associated risks.

Figure 1.

Credit: PATHOLOGY IMAGE COLLECTION/ST BARTS