Iron pill-induced gastritis: an unrecognized side effect of iron-deficiency anemia

Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2023 Feb;115(2):100. doi: 10.17235/reed.2022.9005/2022.

Abstract

Iron-deficiency anemia is a prevalent condition usually treated with iron supplementation. Iron pill-induced gastritis is an under-recognized, albeit serious potential complication of iron pill ingestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This entity must be identified by healthcare providers who prescribe iron. The diagnosis of this unusual drug-induced disease is based on endoscopic findings and histopathological examination, because the clinical symptoms are vague and non-specific. Herein we report a case of a 79-year-old woman with iron-deficiency anemia taking oral ferrous sulfate with multiple congestive and eroded polypoid lesions. Histology showed an H. pylori-negative erosive gastritis with iron deposition, confirming the diagnosis of iron pill-induced gastritis. The aim of this report is to highlight that iron pill-induced gastritis is an under-diagnosed entity that must be kept in mind when patients undergo chronic iron-pill therapy because it can lead to serious complications of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* / complications
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Gastritis* / chemically induced
  • Gastritis* / complications
  • Gastritis* / diagnosis
  • Helicobacter Infections* / drug therapy
  • Helicobacter pylori*
  • Humans
  • Iron / adverse effects
  • Upper Gastrointestinal Tract* / pathology

Substances

  • Iron