Haem: Iron Deficiency Anaemia: Free MSRA Podcast

🎧 Iron Deficiency Anaemia – Core Haematology for the MSRA 🩸💊Welcome to this focused deep dive on Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) — the most common cause of anaemia worldwide and a high-yield favourite in MSRA exams. Whether you're revising for your exam, preparing for GP practice, or consolidating haematology knowledge, this episode breaks down everything you need in a digestible, memorable way.🧠 What You'll Learn:• Definition: – IDA is a type of microcytic, hypochromic anaemia caused by insufficient iron, leading to reduced haemoglobin production and impaired oxygen delivery.• WHO Diagnostic Criteria: – Hb <130 g/L in men – Hb <120 g/L in non-pregnant women• Causes of IDA (Grouped Mnemonic: BIL-GP): – Blood loss (e.g. menorrhagia, GI bleeding incl. malignancy, NSAID use) – Intake low (poor diet, vegan/vegetarian without supplementation) – Low absorption (e.g. coeliac disease, H. pylori, post-gastrectomy) – Growth (children, adolescents) – Pregnancy (due to increased demand)🩺 Clinical Features:• General Symptoms: – Fatigue, pallor, breathlessness, dizziness, palpitations• Specific Signs: – Koilonychia (spoon nails) – Angular stomatitis – Atrophic glossitis (smooth red tongue) – Rarely: Plummer-Vinson syndrome (post-cricoid web)📊 Differentials for Microcytic Anaemia:• Thalassaemia (normal/high ferritin, normal/high RBC count)• Anaemia of chronic disease (normal/high ferritin)• Sideroblastic anaemia• Lead poisoning• B12/folate deficiency (macrocytic) — mixed picture possible🧪 Key Investigations:• FBC: ↓ Hb, ↓ MCV, ↓ MCH• Ferritin: ↓ (hallmark of IDA)• Serum iron: ↓• TIBC: ↑• Blood film: microcytosis, anisopoikilocytosis• Consider coeliac screen, urine dip, endoscopy/colonoscopy if GI loss suspected🛠️ Management Strategy:Treat the underlying cause (e.g. GI malignancy, menorrhagia)Iron replacement therapy: – Oral iron (ferrous sulphate) – continue 3 months after Hb normalises – IV iron for intolerance, malabsorption, or rapid replacementDietary advice: – Increase iron-rich foods (red meat, dark leafy greens) – Take vitamin C with non-haem iron to boost absorption – Avoid tea/coffee near iron intake due to absorption inhibition⏱️ Monitoring & Follow-up:• Recheck FBC after 2–4 weeks — expect Hb to rise by ~20 g/L• Continue therapy for 3 months post-normalisation to replenish stores• Investigate non-response (non-compliance, malabsorption, wrong diagnosis)📤 When to Refer:• Men or post-menopausal women with confirmed IDA → urgent GI referral• Non-responders or those intolerant to oral iron• Women with unresponsive menorrhagia → Gynaecology• Severe anaemia or cardiac symptoms → consider hospital admission⚠️ Complications of Untreated IDA:• Heart failure• Impaired cognition and immunity• In children – developmental delay and poor growth• Recurrent infections• Decreased exercise tolerance and QoL📚 Memory Aids:• Low Ferritin = IDA• MCV down, TIBC up, Ferritin down = classic IDA pattern• BIL-GP Mnemonic for causes: Blood loss, Intake, Low absorption, Growth, Pregnancy• Think: Small and pale cells = Microcytic + Hypochromic• Severe symptoms? Rule out GI malignancy early🌐 Revision Resources:• 📘 Revision Notes:https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/iron-deficiency-anaemia-revision-notes/• 🃏 Flashcards:https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/iron-deficiency-anaemia-flashcards/• 📂 Accordion Q&A Notes:https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/iron-deficiency-anaemia-accordion-qa-notes/• 🎯 Rapid Fire Quiz:https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/iron-deficiency-anaemia-rapid-quiz/• 🧪 Practice Quiz:https://www.passthemsra.com/quizzes/iron-deficiency-anaemia/#MSRA #IronDeficiencyAnaemia #Haematology #MSRAFlashcards #MicrocyticAnaemia #PassTheMSRA #MSRAQuiz #MSRARevisionNotes #GPExam #AnaemiaInPregnancy #CoeliacDisease #Koilonychia #IronTherapy #HaematologyMSRA #FreeMSRA #MSRAPodcast