Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Preventing iron deficiency anemia is essential for strengthening adolescent health and ensuring their full development. Strategies such as improving nutrition, expanding the availability of iron-fortified products, implementing pharmacological prevention, and raising awareness play a crucial role in addressing this issue.

In this study the investigators will recruit patients who have already had an upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract endoscopy (OGD) and lower GI tract investigations which did not identify the source of iron deficiency anaemia, and who need the small bowel to be investigated. This will comprise both patients who would have proceeded directly to small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) under standard care and also those from whom an initial 'watch and wait' approach may have been adopted before proceeding to SBCE. The investigators propose to investigate these patients during a single patient visit to Leith Community Treatment Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland, with a CE marked robotic capsule system which can examine both the upper GI tract (i.e. the oesophagus and the stomach) and the small bowel in one investigation using a magnetic guided capsule. The aim of the study is to compare the findings from OGD with the robotic capsule system and to determine if such a system may safely replace OGD - thus examining the upper GI tract and small bowel for IDA in one less invasive investigation. This has the potential to decrease patient discomfort, stress and anxiety, while also reducing pressure on busy endoscopy departments, helping to ensure that the right patients receive the right investigations in a timely manner.

Chronic kidney disease affects a significant portion of the UK population, with approximately 3.5 million adults diagnosed. At its most severe stage, end-stage kidney disease, individuals require frequent dialysis treatment. One form of dialysis, known as peritoneal dialysis, involves introducing and removing fluid from the abdominal cavity to help filter out toxins from the body. The kidneys are involved in various hormonal processes, including those responsible for producing red blood cells, making anaemia a common consequence of kidney failure. When designing a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of any treatment, it is essential to determine the number of suitable and willing participants, as well as those who can complete all required tests and measurements. Identifying the most appropriate measurement to assess the impact of intravenous iron (iron injected directly into veins) is crucial to ensure that any observed changes are meaningful to people with CKD and their carers. To address these considerations, the investigators will conduct a pilot feasibility trial. In this trial, individuals with kidney disease undergoing peritoneal dialysis will be randomly assigned to receive either high-dose or low-dose intravenous iron, or oral iron therapy. Over twelve months, the investigators will monitor their anaemia response, symptoms of kidney disease, quality of life, physical performance (such as the ability to walk for six minutes), and cognitive function. Additionally, the investigators will assess the impact of each intervention on the frequency of blood transfusions, whether those on oral iron require intravenous iron, and any changes in the dosage of erythropoietin-stimulating agents (drugs that increase blood production).

Anemia in pregnancy,and especially iron deficiency anemia is both a long standing scholarly interest ,the aim of my research to summarise the risk factors of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy, especially in Egypt as a less developed country,and suggest recommendations about how to prevent it