Do patients with iron deficiency without anemia benefit from an endoscopic examination?

OBJECTIVE The need for endoscopic investigation in patients with iron deficiency without anemia (ID) is not established. METHODS Data from patients with ID (serum ferritin ≤20 ng/mL, normal hemoglobin) studied with upper and lower endoscopies were retrospectively analyzed. Patients evaluated for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) served as controls, matched by sex and age in the proportion of 2:1. The groups were compared for the presence, type, location and age distribution of endoscopic findings. RESULTS Altogether 109 patients (55% women; mean age 59.6 ± 13.5 years; aged