Table 1.

Possible causes for iron deficiency anemia NSAID, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. CHF, chronic heart failure. CKD, chronic kidney disease.

Causes of Iron Deficiency Anemia
1. Anemia due to martial deficiency
(a) insufficient reserves:	prematurity, twinship, neonatal hemorrhages, maternal anemia
(b) insufficient food intake:	diet with excess flour, exclusive diet with goat’s milk, protein and vitamin deficiencies, vegetarian diet
(c) deficient absorption:	presence of inhibitory factors (phytate, phosphates, carbonates), lack of reducing factors (vitamin C, hydrochloric acid, bile acids), celiac disease, gastrectomy, Helicobacter Pylori infection, intestinal resections, bacterial overgrowths
2. Iron-loss anemia
(a) gastro-intestinal hemorrhages:	esophageal varices (liver cirrhosis), diaphragmatic hernia, esophagitis, gastro-duodenal ulcer, cancer of the digestive tract (esophageal, gastric, colonic cancer), tumors of the small intestine, Vaterian ampulloma, hemorrhoids, rectal polyps, intestinal parasites, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, colonic angiodysplasia, bariatric surgery, NSAIDs consumption
(b) hemorrhages of respiratory origin:	epistaxis, pulmonary tuberculosis, lung cancer, bronchiectasis, pulmonary microinfarcts, alveolar hemorrhage
(c) genito-urinary hemorrhages:	prolonged menstrual cycle, metrorrhagia, renal tuberculosis, renovesical cancer, hemorrhagic nephritis, hemodialysis
(d) hemorrhagic diathesis:	alteration of the capillary wall, alteration of platelets, combined alterations
(f) hypersplenism:
(g) genetic causes:	iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia
(h) mechanical fragmentation of RBCs:	prosthetic valves
(i) endocrine diseases:	hypothyroidism, pituitary insufficiency, autoimmune polyglandular syndromes
(j) autoimmune diseases:	scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus
(k) drugs:	anticoagulants, antiaggregants, NSAIDs
(l) CHF, CKD.