Pernicious anemia presenting with dysphagia and melanoderma: a confusing manifestation

Vitamin B12 deficiency is widely recognized as a common cause of anemia. However, symptoms such as dysphagia, melanoderma, and pancytopenia, although less frequent, can also be associated with this deficiency. We report the case of a 47-year-old Caucasian man presented with dysphagia to solids assoc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Salma Souissi, Myriam Ayari, Imen Abdellali, Rim Bourguiba, Syrine Belakhal, Taieb Jomni, Mohamed Hedi Doggui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Future Science OA
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.2144/fsoa-2023-0176
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Summary:Vitamin B12 deficiency is widely recognized as a common cause of anemia. However, symptoms such as dysphagia, melanoderma, and pancytopenia, although less frequent, can also be associated with this deficiency. We report the case of a 47-year-old Caucasian man presented with dysphagia to solids associated to high heart rate, dyspnea and melanoderma. He was diagnosed with severe anemia (hemoglobin 4 g/dl) in association with pancytopenia. Further investigation confirmed that the underlying cause was severe vitamin B12 deficiency secondary to pernicious anemia. Subsequent treatment with vitamin B12 supplements led to a significant improvement in all symptoms. A review of the existing literature corroborated the rarity of severe anemia occurring in conjunction with dysphagia and melanoderma due to B12 deficiency.
ISSN:2056-5623