IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA ASSOCIATED TO HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION

Key words: Helicobacter pylori, Lactoferrin, Iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anaemia may be associated to Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, as well as other extra-intestinal manifestations such as growth faltering, migraine, auto-immune disease and MALT lymphoma. The relationship between iron deficiency anaemia and Hp infection, first described by the Author, was then confirmed by subsequent studies. Anaemia is not due to intestinal losses, nor to reduced iron absorption, but to increased production and saturation of lactoferrin in the gastric mucus. Lactoferrin is then captured by a specific receptor of the cell wall of Hp, which thus is competing with the host for the iron utilisation.