Plummer–Vinson syndrome
| Plummer–Vinson syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Other names |
|
| Angular stomatitis | |
| Specialty | Gastroenterology, Hematology |
| Symptoms | Dysphagia, iron-deficiency anemia, glossitis, cheilosis, esophageal webs |
| Complications | Esophageal cancer, pharyngeal cancer |
| Usual onset | Typically in perimenopausal women |
| Duration | Chronic, but treatable |
| Causes | Iron deficiency |
| Risk factors | Poor nutritional status, particularly iron deficiency |
| Diagnostic method | Clinical evaluation, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, blood tests (for iron deficiency) |
| Prevention | Adequate iron intake, monitoring at-risk individuals |
| Treatment | Iron supplementation, mechanical dilation of the esophagus |
| Medication | Iron supplements |
| Prognosis | Generally good with treatment |
| Frequency | Rare |
Plummer–Vinson syndrome (also known as Paterson–Kelly syndrome or Paterson–Brown-Kelly syndrome in the UK) is a rare disease characterized by dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), iron-deficiency anemia, atrophic glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), angular cheilitis or cheilosis (crackings at the corners of the mouth, respectively associated or not with inflammation), and upper esophageal webs (thin membranes in the esophagus that can cause obstruction). Treatment with iron supplementation and mechanical widening of the esophagus generally leads to excellent outcomes.
While exact epidemiological data are lacking, Plummer–Vinson syndrome has become extremely rare. The reduction in prevalence has been hypothesized to result from improvements in nutritional status and iron availability in countries where the syndrome was previously more common. The syndrome generally occurs in perimenopausal women. Identification and follow-up of affected individuals are important due to the increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and pharynx.