Table 1.

Diagnosing and managing anaemia in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Type of Anaemia	Definition of Anaemia	Diagnosis	Microscopic Findings	Management
IDA	Women: Hb < 120 g/L Men: Hb < 130 g/L Pregnancy: Hb < 110 g/L	Low serum iron Low ferritin (<30 ug/L) Serum ferritin < 100 ug/L in inflammatory disease Low transferrin saturation (TSAT < 20%) Transferrin levels increased Reduced MCH	Microcytic and hypochromic erythrocytes	Oral or IV replacement Blood transfusion
Vitamin B12 deficiency		Low B12 levels Elevated methylmalonic acid Elevated total homocysteine Elevated MCH	Megaloblastic anaemia	High dose IV or oral B12 replacement
ACD		Low reticulocyte count Low iron Low TSAT (<20%) Transferrin levels normal or decreased Normal or raised Ferritin (<100) Low or normal MCH	Normochromic and normocytic erythrocytes	Treatment of underlying condition Blood transfusions Erythropoiesis stimulating agents
IDA and ACD		Normal or raised transferrin saturation Normal or reduced MCH	Hypochromic erythrocytes

IDA: iron deficiency anaemia, ACD: anaemia of chronic disease, MCH: mean corpuscular haemoglobin, Hb: haemoglobin.