Iron Deficiency Anemia-Induced Lymphocytopenia in a Young Female

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia, and it occurs when the human body does not have enough of the mineral iron (https://www.healthline.com/health/iron-deficiency-anemia#diagnosis). Iron deficiency anemia is caused by blood loss, insufficient dietary intake, or poor absorption of iron from food. Sources of blood loss can include heavy periods, childbirth, uterine fibroids, stomach ulcers, colon cancer, and urinary tract bleeding (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/iron-deficiency-anemia). Poor absorption of iron from food may occur as a result of an intestinal disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease, or surgery such as a gastric bypass (https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/ida/en/). Little is known about the association between iron deficiency anemia and lymphocytopenia. Here, we report on a 17-year-old female who presented with iron deficiency anemia and was found to have lymphopenia. She recovered after having received intravenous iron therapy.