Diagnosis and Management of Plummer-Vinson Syndrome in a Female Ghanaian

Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS), also known as Paterson-Brown Kelly syndrome, is a clinical condition that is characterized by the triad of iron deficiency anemia, dysphagia and oesophageal web. This condition is rare and is diagnosed more in middle aged to older white women. However, in some studies, younger individuals have also been found to have this condition. We present a 26-year-old woman with a 5-year history of progressive difficulty in swallowing and a long history (approximately 18 years) of iron deficiency anaemia and has been on intermittent iron supplementation. A barium swallow showed narrowing in the upper third of the oesophagus, and she underwent serial dilatation of the oesophageal web stenosis and iron therapy with resultant improvement in the dysphagia. This patient was found to be pregnant 3 months postdiagnosis of PVS. The prevalence of PVS has decreased due to early diagnosis of iron deficiency and repletion of iron stores.