However , in patients with IBD flares and inadequate responses to or side effects with oral preparations , intravenous iron supplementation is the therapy of choice .
Neither oral nor intravenous therapy seems to exacerbate the clinical course of IBD , and intravenous iron therapy can be administered even in active disease stages and concomitantly with biologics .
Based on the data presented , oral iron therapy should be preferred for patients with quiescent disease stages and trivial iron deficiency  anemia unless such patients are intolerant or have an inadequate response , whereas intravenous iron supplementation may be of advantage in patients with aggravated anemia or flares of IBD because inflammation hampers intestinal absorption of iron
Abstract Anemia is the most frequent complication of inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD ) , but anemia , mostly due to iron deficiency , has long been neglected in these patients .
The aim was to briefly present the pathophysiology , followed by a balanced overview of the different forms of iron replacement available , and subsequently , to perform a systematic review of studies performed in the last decade on the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in IBD .
Recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and refractory anemia: a 15-year single center experience.
AIM OF THE STUDY To describe our 15-year experience on the patients ' response and safety to the use of EPO in IBD patients with refractory anemia . PATIENTS - METHODS Single center retrospective chart analysis of all IBD patients receiving EPO for the period 1994 - 2009 . Patients with resistant anemia not responding to I.V. iron therapy were enrolled . Concommitant medication , medical and laboratory data on short and long-term patients ' responses and safety were recorded . RESULTS In total 820 IBD files were review ed and among 78 patients treated with I.V. iron  we identified 26 patients who received EPO in concordance to our inclusion criteria . Azathioprine or methotrexate was administered in 17 patients and 7 patients received concomitant Infliximab . After EPO , 22/26 patients ( 84.6 % ) responded and peripheral blood parameters were significantly improved and blood transfusions were significantly decreased ( p<0.001 ) . Erythropoietin dose was increased in three non-responders while two patients required emergency transfusions . No adverse events were recorded . CONCLUSIONS In anemic IBD patients who are refractory to I.V. iron monotherapy  , administration of EPO significantly improved peripheral blood parameters with safety . Prospect i ve controlled trials are needed to confirm positive patients ' response to EPO and identify those patients who are more likely to benefit
However , in patients with IBD flares and inadequate responses to or side effects with oral preparations , intravenous iron supplementation is the therapy of choice .
Neither oral nor intravenous therapy seems to exacerbate the clinical course of IBD , and intravenous iron therapy can be administered even in active disease stages and concomitantly with biologics .
Based on the data presented , oral iron therapy should be preferred for patients with quiescent disease stages and trivial iron deficiency  anemia unless such patients are intolerant or have an inadequate response , whereas intravenous iron supplementation may be of advantage in patients with aggravated anemia or flares of IBD because inflammation hampers intestinal absorption of iron
Abstract Anemia is the most frequent complication of inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD ) , but anemia , mostly due to iron deficiency , has long been neglected in these patients .
The aim was to briefly present the pathophysiology , followed by a balanced overview of the different forms of iron replacement available , and subsequently , to perform a systematic review of studies performed in the last decade on the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in IBD .