Changing Approach to Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pediatric IBD

Posted on by

Previously, there have been numerous posts on this blog discussing iron deficiency anemia in pediatric IBD, including an algorithm by CHOP in 2019 (CHOP QI: Anemia in IBD Pathway) and a NASPGHAN position paper in 2020 (Anemia in IBD -NASPGHAN Position Paper). A recent study from Nationwide Children’s highlights ongoing changes in the approach to this common problem.

J Smith et al. JPGN 2023; 76: 313-318. Diagnosis and Treatment of Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Youth With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This study focused on a quality improvement effort to improve iron deficiency screening in newly-diagnosed patients with IBD. The QI project increased screening from a baseline of 20% to more than 90%. Importantly, this article details a useful algorithm (Figure 4). Key components:

  1. Screen with Ferritin, Iron and TIBC. If Ferritin is less than 30 or iron saturation is less than 20%, it recommends weight-based oral treatment.
  2. If less than 35 kg, options include 3 mg/kg/day (elemental) of ferrous sulfate or Novaferrum. If more than 35 kg, then it recommends ferrous sulfate (325 mg daily=65 mg elemental), ferrous gluconate (325 mg tab bid=36 mg elemental BID), or Novaferrum Ferrex capsule (150 mg daily =150 mg elemental).
  3. Anemia & iron indices are followed every 2-3 months (until improved) and if not resolved, options include either intravenous treatment and/or hematology involvement. For patients less than 50 kg, the authors utilize ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) 15 mg/kg/dose and for those more than 50 kg, FCM at 750 mg dosing.

For IV iron, the authors prefer FCM, which is FDA approved in children 1 yr of age and older, over iron sucrose or iron dextran as the number of infusions needed to replete iron stores is significantly reduced.  FCM is a relatively costly IV iron formulation, but can be given over 15 minutes; however, due to fewer infusions, FCM is likely cost-effective.

In the discussion, the authors caution against relying on laboratory reference values for ferritin and iron saturation which often set lower normative values (eg. Ferritin of 7 and iron saturation of 15%).

My take: This QI project provides a good strategy for dealing with iron deficiency anemia in the pediatric population.

Nationwide Children’s Algorithm