The aim of treatment for iron deficiency is to supply enough iron to replenish the iron stores and normalise haemoglobin concentration in anaemic patients. The underlying cause of the iron deficiency should always be considered as this may require separate intervention. In some cases, it will be possible to cure the underlying cause and thereby prevent iron deficiency from reoccurring. In other cases, the underlying cause is not easily correctable, particularly in chronic conditions such as IBD or CKD. These patients often require repeated iron treatment over many years.
Because iron deficiency is frequently a consequence of other diseases and not the primary cause of the illness, as in the case of functional iron deficiency in inflammatory conditions, it can often be neglected or underestimated.
