Iron deficiency, and especifically iron deficiency anaemia, remains one of the commonest and most important nutritional deficiencies in the world today. This article reviews the main causes of iron deficiency anaemia, the current diagnostic methods and prevention strategies of iron deficiency. The treatment of iron deficiency should always be initiated with oral iron and an investigation of the cause of iron deficiency anaemia is mandatory. When oral iron therapy fails due to high blood losses, iron malabsorption or intolerance to oral iron, parenteral iron administration should be considered. The authors discuss available iron preparations, their efficacy, safety and tolerability, and the optimal therapeutic approach to successfully treat this common and important disease.
Iron deficiency; etiology; diagnosis; therapeutics; ferrous compounds; ferric compounds
