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Review
. 2017 Jul;96(30):e7550.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007550.

A rare case of iron-pill induced gastritis in a female teenager: A case report and a review of the literature

Lorena Elena Meliţ  1 , Cristina Oana Mărginean, Simona Mocanu, Maria Oana Mărginean
Affiliations
Review

A rare case of iron-pill induced gastritis in a female teenager: A case report and a review of the literature

Lorena Elena Meliţ et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Jul.

Abstract

Rationale: The treatment of iron-deficiency anemia with oral iron supplements can present side-effects on the GI tract mucosa including necrosis, ulceration, or ischemia. The particular endoscopic findings and the histopathological exam will establish the diagnosis of erosive gastritis with iron deposits in the gastric mucosa.

Patient concerns: We present the case of a 14-year-old female admitted in our clinic for upper digestive hemorrhage, nausea, melena, and abdominal pain. Her personal history revealed iron deficiency anemia receiving oral iron supplements for approximately 2 weeks.

Diagnosis: The laboratory tests at the moment of admission pointed out anemia, increased level of serum iron, increased liver transaminases, a decreased level of ferritin, but with normal levels of both total iron-binding capacity and transferrin.

Interventions: The eso-gastro-duodenoscopy revealed multiple brown deposits on the surface of the gastric mucosa and multiple hemorrhagic lesions, under the aspect of erosions all over the gastric mucosa, but more severe in the antral part, and the histopathological exam confirmed the presence of iron deposits at this level.

Conclusion: Iron-pill induced gastritis is a rare, under-diagnosed entity that can be present even at pediatric ages with potential severe clinical impact.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Macroscopic aspect of the gastric folds with brown deposits.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Multiple hemorrhagic lesions of the gastric mucosa.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Microscopic aspect of the gastric mucosa (HE, ×10). HE = hematoxylin & eosin.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Microscopic aspect of the gastric mucosa (HE, ×20). HE = hematoxylin & eosin.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Follow-up macroscopic aspect of the gastric mucosa.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Follow-up microscopic aspect of the gastric mucosa (HE, ×10). HE = hematoxylin & eosin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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