A case of plummer-vinson syndrome showing rapid improvement of dysphagia and esophageal web after two weeks of iron therapy

Tomomitsu Tahara, Tomoyuki Shibata, Masaaki Okubo, Daisuke Yoshioka, Takamitsu Ishizuka, Kazuya Sumi, Tomohiko Kawamura, Mitsuo Nagasaka, Yoshihito Nakagawa, Masakatsu Nakamura, Tomiyasu Arisawa, Naoki Ohmiya, Ichiro Hirata

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is a rare entity characterized by upper esophageal webs and iron deficiency anemia. We report a case of PVS whose esophageal web was rapidly improved by iron therapy. A 77-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of dysphagia, vomiting, shortness of breath and weight loss for 1 month. Physical examination revealed conjunctival pallor, koilonychia, angular cheilitis and smooth tongue, and laboratory findings were consistent with microcytic hypochromic anemia with iron deficiency. Gastrointestinal endoscopy and barium-swallow esophagography detected a web that prevented passage of the endoscope into the upper portion of the esophagus. The patient received oral iron therapy daily; the hemoglobin concentration rose to 8.9 g/dl and the complaints of dysphagia were dramatically improved after 2 weeks, with improvement of luminal stenosis confirmed by gastrointestinal endoscopy and barium-swallow esophagography. The PVS described in this report had a distinct clinical course, showing very rapid improvement of dysphagia and esophageal web after 2 weeks of oral iron therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)211-215
Number of pages5
JournalCase Reports in Gastroenterology
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16-04-2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Gastroenterology

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