Appropriateness of the study of iron deficiency anemia prior to referral for small bowel evaluation at a tertiary center

Table 2 Pre-referral study

Procedures	n (%)
Appropriate pre-referral study	17 (22.1)
EGD	75 (97.4)
H. pylori investigation	35 (58.3)
Colonoscopy	71 (92.2)
With quality standards	49 (63.6)
Without quality standards	22 (28.6)
Insufficient intestinal preparation	15 (19.2)
Incomplete	5 (6.5)
Non-recent	2 (2.6%)
Celiac Disease screening	19 (24.7)
Serologic testing	10 (13.0)
Duodenal histopathological investigation	7 (9.1)
Both	2 (2.6)
Additional pre-referral study
Iron metabolism tests	69 (89.6)
C-reactive protein	33 (42.9)
Vitamin B12	27 (35.1)
Folic Acid	27 (35.1)
Reticulocyte count	23 (29.9)
Peripheral blood smear	0 (0.0)
Ileoscopy	14 (20.0)
Gynecology evaluation1	3 (50.0)
Capsule endoscopy	3 (3.9)
Labelled red cell scintigraphy	5 (6.5)

¹Including only female patients younger than 40 years. EGD: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy; H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori.