Anaemia in occult intestinal malabsorption

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Abstract
Nine patients are described, four men and five women, aged between 14 and 62 years, who presented with symptoms of severe anaemia. Deficiencies of iron and folic acid were subsequently demonstrated in each case. Although malabsorption was not initially suspected, further investigations showed an abnormally high excretion of faecal fat in seven cases. Anaemias which are `unexplained' or which show a suboptimal response to treatment should be investigated from the viewpoint of intestinal dysfunction. Such anaemias are not a particularly uncommon problem.