Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Plummer-Vinson syndrome causes
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The cause of Plummer-Vinson syndrome is unknown; however, iron deficiency anemia, genetic factors and nutritional deficiencies may play a role. Iron deficiency anemia is the most widely regarded cause of Plummer-Vinson syndrome and can be due to increased iron demand, decreased intake and malabsorption syndromes.
Causes
Causes
The cause of Plummer-Vinson syndrome is unknown; however, iron deficiency anemia, genetic factors and nutritional deficiencies may play a role. Iron deficiency anemia is the most widely regarded cause of Plummer-Vinson syndrome and can be due to:
Common causes
Common causes of iron deficiency anemia associated with Plummer-Vinson syndrome include conditions which lead to iron demand, decreased intake and malabsorption syndromes. These conditions are described below:[1][2][3][4][5]
- Physiological conditions with increased iron requirements such as:
- Growth
- Pregnancy
- Frequent blood donation
- Conditions promoting blood loss leads to an increased demand of iron by the body. These include:
- Menstruation
- Gastrointestinal tract disorders such as:
- Genitourinary tract disorders such as:
- Hemoptysis (alveolar hemorrhage)
- Nosocomial blood loss; phlebotomy for diagnostic tests in hospitalized patients
- Following gastric or small bowel surgery: due to loss of gastric acidity, increased transit time for food, and decreased absorption of iron
- Conditions leading to impaired iron absorption
- Celiac disease
- Tropical sprue
- Gastric surgery
- Hypochlorhydria
- Taking too many antacids that contain calcium
- Whipple disease
- Kwashiorkor disease
- Alcoholism
Less common causes
- Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (recurrent hemorrhage)
- Intravascular hemolysis (paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria)
- Iatrogenic causes such as frequent blood draws, particularly in hospitalized patients
- Inadequate diet in children (excessive consumption of whole cow’s milk)
References
References
- ↑ Novacek G (2006). “Plummer-Vinson syndrome”. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 1: 36. doi:10.1186/1750-1172-1-36. PMID 16978405.
- ↑ Changela K, Haeri NS, Krishnaiah M, Reddy M (2016). “Plummer-Vinson Syndrome with Proximal Esophageal Web”. J. Gastrointest. Surg. 20 (5): 1074–5. doi:10.1007/s11605-015-3051-5. PMID 26658794.
- ↑ Sugiura Y, Nakagawa M, Hashizume T, Nemoto E, Kaseda S (2015). “Iron Supplementation Improved Dysphagia Related to Plummer-Vinson Syndrome”. Keio J Med. 64 (3): 48–50. doi:10.2302/kjm.2014-0011-CR. PMID 26411779.
- ↑ Masri O, Sharara AI (2013). “Plummer-Vinson syndrome”. Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 11 (12): e85. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2013.05.012. PMID 23707464.
- ↑ Zimmer V, Buecker A, Lammert F (2009). “Sideropenic dysphagia”. Gastroenterology. 137 (6): e1–2. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2009.03.051. PMID 19879220.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Akshun Kalia M.B.B.S.[2]