Iron pill induced gastritis causing severe anemia

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Hematology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Iron supplementation is a common treatment for iron deficiency anemia.
• Oral iron therapy is generally considered safe, but can cause gastrointestinal side effects.
• Gastritis and anemia can be serious complications of oral iron intake.

Observation:

• A 71-year-old male patient presented with severe iron deficiency anemia while on oral iron therapy.
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed significant gastric mucosal injury, including erythema and ulceration in the fundus.
• Biopsy confirmed the presence of pill debris in the injured gastric tissue.

Findings:

• The patient experienced corrosive mucosal damage and gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to oral iron pills.
• Switching to intravenous iron supplementation led to the healing of gastric mucosa.
• Intravenous iron therapy also resulted in the improvement of the patient's anemia.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare, potentially life-threatening side effect of oral iron supplementation.
• Physicians should consider iron pill-induced gastritis as a cause of severe anemia and upper gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Intravenous iron may be a safer alternative for patients experiencing severe adverse reactions to oral iron.