- Home
- Medical news & Guidelines
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology and CTVS
- Critical Care
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Diabetes and Endocrinology
- ENT
- Gastroenterology
- Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Obstretics-Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Pediatrics-Neonatology
- Psychiatry
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Surgery
- Urology
- Laboratory Medicine
- Diet
- Nursing
- Paramedical
- Physiotherapy
- Health news
- Fact Check
- Bone Health Fact Check
- Brain Health Fact Check
- Cancer Related Fact Check
- Child Care Fact Check
- Dental and oral health fact check
- Diabetes and metabolic health fact check
- Diet and Nutrition Fact Check
- Eye and ENT Care Fact Check
- Fitness fact check
- Gut health fact check
- Heart health fact check
- Kidney health fact check
- Medical education fact check
- Men's health fact check
- Respiratory fact check
- Skin and hair care fact check
- Vaccine and Immunization fact check
- Women's health fact check
- AYUSH
- State News
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Andhra Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Bihar
- Chandigarh
- Chattisgarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli
- Daman and Diu
- Delhi
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Ladakh
- Lakshadweep
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Odisha
- Puducherry
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttrakhand
- West Bengal
- Medical Education
- Industry
Anemia linked to severity of idiopathic intracranial hypertension: A call for Routine screening
Canada: A groundbreaking prospective study revealed that it is paramount for healthcare professionals to consider routine anemia screening for all patients under suspicion of idiopathic intracranial hypertension as about one in five IIH patients experienced anemia.
The study results were published in the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology on August 17, 2023.
Anemia, a condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells, has long been associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). However, due to the lack of prospective studies and the shared occurrence of IIH and anemia in young women with obesity, the exact nature of this connection remained elusive. Hence, Canadian researchers conducted a prospective study from 3 neuro-ophthalmology centers between March 2021 and September 2022 on consecutive patients with IIH.
Patients with IIH were advised a complete blood count available within 6 months of presentation. Anemia was defined as mild (110–120 g/L), moderate (80–109 g/L), and severe (<80 g/L). About 143 patients participated in the study, out of which 113 had normal hemoglobin (group 1) and 30 had anemia (group 2).
Study results:
- Anemia in group 2 varied in severity, with 50.0% classified as mild, 36.7% as moderate, and 13.3% as severe.
- Strikingly, there were no discernible differences between the two groups in terms of gender, age, or body mass index.
- Furthermore, no significant distinctions were found in visual acuity, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, mean deviation, or the need for medical or surgical interventions in groups 1 and 2.
- Patients with moderate to severe anemia in group 2 were found to be more likely to require surgical therapy.
This study underscores the importance of early detection and management of anemia in IIH patients, especially when anemia reaches moderate to severe levels. This study not only advances our understanding of IIH but also highlights the need for a proactive approach to managing this condition. Screening for anemia can now be seen as a vital tool in the arsenal against idiopathic intracranial hypertension, ensuring that patients receive the most appropriate and timely care.
Further reading: Anemia and idiopathic intracranial hypertension: a prospective study. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjo.2023.07.018
BDS, MDS
Dr.Niharika Harsha B (BDS,MDS) completed her BDS from Govt Dental College, Hyderabad and MDS from Dr.NTR University of health sciences(Now Kaloji Rao University). She has 4 years of private dental practice and worked for 2 years as Consultant Oral Radiologist at a Dental Imaging Centre in Hyderabad. She worked as Research Assistant and scientific writer in the development of Oral Anti cancer screening device with her seniors. She has a deep intriguing wish in writing highly engaging, captivating and informative medical content for a wider audience. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.
Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751