Up to which limit can one survive with iron deficiency anemia?

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia is an important public health problem worldwide. In this case report we presented an unusual case of iron deficiency anemia manifesting with extremely low hemoglobin (Hb) level of 1.7 g/dl. This case was challenging because, the cause of anemia in this patient was insufficient intake, which is an unusual cause of iron deficiency anemia. Secondly, the degree of Hb level that the patient had might not be compatible with life. On the other hand, by means of this case we wanted to present the adaptive capability of human body to chronic long-standing anemia. Therefore, the question of when and how much transfusion will be given should be queried.

Keywords

• Iron deficiency anemia, lower limit, hemoglobin, survival

Up to which limit can one survive with iron deficiency anemia?

Öz

Demir eksikliği anemisi dünya çapında önemli bir sağlık sorunudur. Bu vaka sunumunda 1.7 g/dl gibi çok düşük hemoglobin (Hb) seviyesine sahip bir hasta rapor edilmiştir. Bu vaka ilgi çekici idi çünkü anemi nedeni nadir olmasına rağmen yetersiz oral alım idi. İkinci olarak, Hb seviyesi yaşamla bağdaşmayacak kadar düşük idi. Ayrıca, uzun süreli kronik bir anemiye insan vücudunun uyum sağlama kapasitesini irdelemeyi amaçladık. Dolayısıyla, ne zaman ve ne kadar kan transfüzyonu yapılması gerektiğini sorguladık. Klin Deney Ar Derg 2010; 1(3): 226-7.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Demir eksikliği anemisi, alt sınır, hemoglobin, sağ kalım

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