International Journal of Advances In Case Reports

A DETAILED STUDY OF VARIOUS INVESTIGATIONS WHICH INDICATE IRON DEFICIENCY IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE ANAEMIA DUE TO HOOKWORM INFECTION DIAGNOSED BY DOING ENDOSCOPY

Govindarajalu Ganesan

drgganesan@gmail.com

Iron deficiency, Serum ferritin , Transferrin saturation , Serum iron

Severe anaemia is reported to occur in severe hookworm infection. But so far detailed study of various investigations which indicate iron deficiency in patients with severe anaemia due to hookworm infection diagnosed by doing upper gastro intestinal endoscopy was not done. Hence a detailed study of various investigations which indicate iron deficiency in patients with severe anaemia due to hookworm infection diagnosed by doing upper gastro intestinal endoscopy was done. A study of 1259 patients who had undergone upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy for a period of 5 years from May 2009 to April 2014 was carried out. In each of these 1259 patients, the first and second part of duodenum was carefully examined to find out the presence of hookworms. In all the patients found to have hookworms in duodenum, investigations were done to know about the presence of anaemia .In patients with severe anaemia [haemoglobin <7g/dl or g%] peripheral smear examination was done. But in one patient with severe anaemia, various investigations which indicate iron deficiency namely serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, serum iron and total iron binding capacity [TIBC] were also done. The results were found as given below. Of these 1259 patients, 14 patients found to have hookworms in duodenum were taken into consideration for our study. Of these14 patients, 9 patients had anaemia and 2 of these 9 patients were found to have severe anaemia [haemoglobin<7g/dl or g%]. In one patient with severe anaemia serum ferritin, transferrin saturation and serum iron were very low which indicate iron deficiency. Hence low serum ferritin, low transferrin saturation and serum iron indicate iron deficiency in patients with severe anaemia due to hookworm infection diagnosed by doing upper gastro intestinal endoscopy.