An elusive diagnosis: a case of Plummer-Vinson syndrome

Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS), also known as sideropenic dysphagia or Paterson-Brown-Kelly syndrome, is a rare medical disorder characterised by triad of iron deficiency anaemia, dysphagia, and oesophageal webs, more often seen in middle-aged females. We present a case of a 37-year-old female who came with complaints of difficulty in swallowing food, fatigue, and generalised body weakness for the past 6 months. Her hematological workup revealed microcytic hypochromic anaemia and barium studies showed smooth concentric narrowing of the cervical oesophagus at the level of the C5-C6 vertebrae (post-cricoid oesophageal web). Hence a diagnosis of Plummer -Vinson syndrome was made. Endoscopic dilatation was done to treat her dysphagia. Her iron deficiency anaemia was corrected with 1-unit prbc transfusion and intravenous iron sucrose supplementation. She was encouraged to eat an iron-rich diet. When she came for a follow-up after six weeks of oral iron supplementation, her condition was satisfactory, and dysphagia had improved.