Chronic anemia complicated by cardiac failure, pulmonary hypertension, and pericardial effusion: a case report

Worldwide, iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common cause of anaemia. Iron deficiency alone has an association with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Chronic iron deficiency anemia triggers various physiologic adjustments, leading to hyperdynamic circulation and enhanced hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Those mechanisms may result in the development of high output cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension; however, pericardial effusion remains a rare association.

A 44-year-old Nepalese man presented with fatigability and swollen ankles. Except for a hemorrhoidectomy 4 years ago, he had no comorbidities. Labs confirmed severe iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin 1.8 grams per deciliter) likely secondary to hemorrhoids. An echocardiogram revealed high output cardiac failure, pericardial effusion, and severe pulmonary hypertension. He responded well to the correction of anemia and diuretics with the resolution of vascular complications.

We report a unique presentation of chronic severe iron deficiency anemia complicated by heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and pericardial effusion. We believe it to be the first-ever such case reported in the literature. These cardiovascular complications seem to result from internal homeostatic mechanisms against the chronic tissue hypoxemia observed in severe anemia. Furthermore, iron deficiency alone has an association with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. After excluding other potential causes, we confirmed iron deficiency anaemia as the cause of those complications. The correction of anemia led to an excellent recovery without any sequelae. Our case report highlights the fact that management of such a case should be focused on underlying etiology rather than the complications.