Guidelines for the management of iron deficiency anaemia.

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) occurs in 2-5% of adult men and postmenopausal women in the developed world and is a common cause of referral to gastroenterologists. Gastrointestinal (GI) blood loss from colonic cancer or gastric cancer, and malabsorption in coeliac disease are the most important causes that need to be sought. DEFINING IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA: The lower limit of the normal range for the laboratory performing the test should be used to define anaemia (B).

Can oats be taken in a gluten-free diet? A systematic review.

Objective: There has long been doubt about the need to exclude oats from a gluten-free diet (GFD). The objective of this study was to review the literature in order to arrive at a firm recommendation.

Material And Methods: Electronic databases were searched up to February 2006 using the terms "oats" and "coeliac disease".

Does alpha1-antitrypsin phenotype PiMZ increase the risk of fibrosis in liver disease due to hepatitis C virus infection?

Background: The factors influencing the development of hepatic fibrosis, a key factor in determining outcome, are incompletely understood in hepatitis C. It has been suggested that the heterozygous Z mutation of the alpha1-antitrypsin gene (PiMZ) predisposes to more severe liver damage when infected by the hepatitis C virus. This retrospective cross-sectional study was designed to compare the prevalence of PiMZ in hepatitis C patients with different degrees of fibrosis.

Risk factors for gastrointestinal malignancy in patients with iron-deficiency anaemia.

Objectives: Iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) is common and may be caused by blood loss from gastrointestinal tumours. The aim of this study was to define risk factors for gastrointestinal malignancy in patients with IDA.

Methods: Patients with suspected IDA referred for gastrointestinal investigations were prospectively identified from two neighbouring UK hospitals (serving a population of 550,000 patients) between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 1999.

Should patients with coeliac disease have their bone mineral density measured?

Background: In 1998 we published guidelines for managing osteoporosis in coeliac disease. These guidelines recommended bone mineral density (BMD) measurement at diagnosis. We analyse the results of following these guidelines in a district general hospital with a view to rationalizing screening.

Comparison between Tc-HMPAO labelled white cells and Tc LeukoScan in the investigation of inflammatory bowel disease.

Objectives: (99m)Tc-HMPAO labelled leukocyte imaging (white cell scan) is used in the investigation and assessment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), while (99m)Tc LeukoScan has been used to demonstrate the presence of orthopaedic infections and appendicitis. The single-injection technique used for the administration of LeukoScan removes the need for handling blood and the complex separation and labelling techniques that are required for white cell imaging. This study set out to investigate whether LeukoScan could be used to image IBD.

Diagnosis of fatty liver disease: is biopsy necessary?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is increasingly being recognized as an important and common condition, affecting approximately 20% of the general population. Although liver biopsy is currently the gold standard for diagnosis, there is a need for less invasive methods. Imaging by ultrasound, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance are all able to demonstrate fat.

The prevalence of coeliac disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of coeliac disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: One hundred and sixty patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were tested for the endomysial antibody. Those found positive were studied further with endoscopic small bowel biopsy.