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Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Jun 2019
Topics: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Dyspnea; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Plummer-Vinson Syndrome
PubMed: 31208220
DOI: 10.1177/0145561319850412 -
Journal of Blood Medicine 2017Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS), a rare clinical condition, is characterized by a triad of dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia and esophageal web in the post-cricoid region.... (Review)
Review
Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS), a rare clinical condition, is characterized by a triad of dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia and esophageal web in the post-cricoid region. It was first described over a century ago. However, literature on this condition remains scanty, and its prevalence appears to be declining worldwide, possibly due to improvements in nutrition over time. The condition has been reported most commonly in thin-built, middle-aged, white women. The esophageal webs in PVS are thin mucosal folds, which are best seen either in lateral views at barium swallow or at esophagoscopy. These are usually semilunar or crescentic, being located most often along the anterior esophageal wall, but can be concentric. The exact cause and pathogenesis of PVS remain unclear, though iron and other nutritional deficiencies, genetic predisposition and autoimmunity have all been implicated in formation of the webs. Treatment includes correction of iron deficiency and endoscopic dilation of the esophageal webs to relieve dysphagia. PVS is associated with an increased risk of hypopharyngeal and esophageal malignancies. Correction of iron deficiency may arrest and reverse the mucosal changes and possibly reduces this risk.
PubMed: 29089792
DOI: 10.2147/JBM.S127801 -
Case Reports in Gastroenterology 2021Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) presents with the classic triad of iron-deficiency anemia, dysphagia, and esophageal webs. The mainstay treatment of PVS is iron...
Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) presents with the classic triad of iron-deficiency anemia, dysphagia, and esophageal webs. The mainstay treatment of PVS is iron supplementation and the dysphagia usually responds to iron supplementation before the hematologic abnormalities are corrected. This syndrome classically affects middle-aged Caucasian women and very few cases have been reported in African Americans. We present a rare case of PVS in an African-American woman. A 63-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath, dysphagia, and lightheadedness for several weeks. Chest X-ray was negative for any acute abnormalities. Initial hemoglobin was 7.0 g/dL, which improved to 7.5 g/dL after 1 unit of packed red blood cells. She had a mean corpuscular volume of 62 fL, a ferritin level of 6 ng/mL, and an iron level of 12 μg/dL. Fecal occult blood test was negative and barium swallow revealed a proximal esophageal web. Her dysphagia did not significantly improve despite intravenous iron supplementation and esophageal web dilation. Video-fluoroscopic swallow study revealed esophageal and pharyngeal phase dysphagia with food entrapment. She was discharged with plans to follow up with a primary care physician and repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy in 1 year. This case report highlights a rare case of PVS in an African-American woman and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a comprehensive and broad differential diagnosis.
PubMed: 34616256
DOI: 10.1159/000516937 -
Arquivos de Gastroenterologia 2015Plummer-Vinson syndrome is characterized by a triad of dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia and esophageal web. Most of the patients are middle aged women in the fourth to...
BACKGROUND
Plummer-Vinson syndrome is characterized by a triad of dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia and esophageal web. Most of the patients are middle aged women in the fourth to seventh decade of life.
OBJECTIVE
Very few cases of Plummer-Vinson syndrome affecting males have been reported. Here we report a series of male patients found to be suffering from Plummer-Vinson syndrome.
METHODS
Five males presented to us with dysphagia and fatigue of various durations, from April to August, 2012.
RESULTS
These patients were found to have iron deficiency anemia and esophageal web on subsequent investigations and were treated successfully with oral iron therapy.
CONCLUSION
Plummer-Vinson syndrome is common in both males and females and can be successfully treated with oral iron therapy. The patients have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal malignancies and should be thoroughly evaluated for the same.
Topics: Adult; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Deglutition Disorders; Esophagoscopy; Esophagus; Humans; Iron; Male; Men's Health; Middle Aged; Plummer-Vinson Syndrome; Rare Diseases
PubMed: 26486296
DOI: 10.1590/S0004-28032015000300018 -
The American Journal of Case Reports Apr 2021BACKGROUND Plummer-Vinson syndrome is a rare disease that presents with iron-deficiency anemia, dysphagia, and esophageal webs. It usually occurs in middle-aged White...
BACKGROUND Plummer-Vinson syndrome is a rare disease that presents with iron-deficiency anemia, dysphagia, and esophageal webs. It usually occurs in middle-aged White women, and it increases the risk for esophageal cancer. The prevalence of Plummer-Vinson syndrome has decreased due to early detection of iron deficiency and repletion of iron stores. Although Plummer-Vinson syndrome has also been commonly described in children and adolescents, it is seldom reported in the elderly population. CASE REPORT An 88-year-old women with a history of mild cognitive impairment, allergic rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease presented with difficulty in swallowing solid foods. She had a decreased appetite, along with a 4.5-kg weight loss in the last 1 year. She was also found to have severe iron deficiency and mild anemia. Her dysphagia continued to progress even after starting iron supplementation for her iron deficiency. She eventually had a food bolus trapped in her cervical esophagus that required removal via esophagogastroduodenoscopy. A barium swallow revealed a narrowing in the upper esophagus. A repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an esophageal web that was dilated, resulting in relief of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Dysphagia is reported in up to 10% of the elderly population. It commonly causes malnutrition and is associated with increased mortality. The usual etiologies include cognitive dysfunction, neurological disorders, and/or esophageal dysmotility or narrowing. Although the incidence of Plummer-Vinson syndrome has decreased over time, the possibility of its presence should not be overlooked. To our knowledge, the current case is the third case of dysphagia related to Plummer-Vinson syndrome reported in an octogenarian in the literature so far. Iron replacement can help resolve dysphagia in Plummer-Vinson syndrome but dilation of esophageal webs may sometimes be required.
Topics: Adolescent; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Female; Humans; Iron; Middle Aged; Plummer-Vinson Syndrome
PubMed: 33895769
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.929899 -
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2019Plummer-Vinson syndrome is a rare condition associated with dysphagia, iron deficiency, and esophageal webs. Data regarding this condition is limited to mostly case... (Review)
Review
Plummer-Vinson syndrome is a rare condition associated with dysphagia, iron deficiency, and esophageal webs. Data regarding this condition is limited to mostly case reports and a few small cohort studies. Although most cases have a benign and indolent course, the risk of malignancy warrants long-term surveillance. A multidisciplinary approach among healthcare providers is of the utmost importance in the management of this condition.
PubMed: 31417270
DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S180410 -
Cureus Dec 2019Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is characterized by a triad of symptoms comprising microcytic hypochromic anemia, esophageal webs, and dysphagia. PVS is commonly found in...
Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is characterized by a triad of symptoms comprising microcytic hypochromic anemia, esophageal webs, and dysphagia. PVS is commonly found in women of middle age especially in the fourth and fifth decade of life and is rarely reported in males. We report a case of a 39-year-old female patient who had a classic presentation of PVS. PVS is precancerous with high malignant potential; early diagnosis is of utmost importance for better prognosis and surveillance endoscopy is recommended. Iron repletion oftentimes improves the dysphagia; seldom esophageal dilatation is used to provide symptomatic relief.
PubMed: 32025392
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6463 -
The Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology... Jan 2016Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is characterized by the presence of postcricoid dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia, and upper esophageal web. This syndrome is now a rare... (Review)
Review
Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is characterized by the presence of postcricoid dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia, and upper esophageal web. This syndrome is now a rare condition because of the improvement in nutritional status and increased awareness regarding iron deficiency anemia and the early diagnosis and easy treatment of this anemia or underlying causes. In this presentation, we report two middle-aged female patients with PVS and briefly review the literature.
Topics: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Deglutition Disorders; Diagnosis, Differential; Esophageal Diseases; Esophagus; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Plummer-Vinson Syndrome; Rare Diseases
PubMed: 26620961
DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2015.150435