Plummer-Vinson syndrome is a rare condition associated with iron deficiency anemia that causes difficulty swallowing due to esophageal nets. It is more common in women aged 40-80 and can increase the risk of throat or esophageal cancer. Iron supplements or esophageal dilation can treat the condition.
Plummer-Vinson syndrome, or PVS, is a condition traditionally associated with iron deficiency anemia. People who have the syndrome, also known as iron deficiency dysphagia and, in the UK, as Paterson-Brown-Kelly syndrome, have difficulty swallowing due to so-called oesophageal nets. An esophageal mesh is a consequence of part of the lining of the esophagus, the tube that carries food to the stomach. This growth of tissue makes the esophagus narrower, typically causing swallowing problems. Symptoms of iron deficiency, such as feeling tired and looking pale, may also occur, and the condition is usually treated with iron supplements.
The number of cases of Plummer-Vinson syndrome has decreased in recent times and the disorder has become rare. This is thought to be due to the improvements in nutrition and medical care that have taken place over the past century. Women between the ages of 40 and 80 are most frequently affected by the condition, which is thought to be associated with an increased risk of developing cancer of the throat or esophagus.
An early symptom of Plummer-Vinson syndrome is having difficulty swallowing solid foods. The problem usually comes on and off over a number of years and is not associated with pain. If the condition progresses, it may become difficult to swallow softer foods or liquids. Sometimes you experience suffocation. A person with Plummer-Vinson syndrome is usually able to describe exactly the level at which the blockage occurs, corresponding to the location of the esophageal rete, which is typically found in the upper esophagus.
Additional problems seen in people with Plummer-Vinson syndrome are caused by iron deficiency. Signs of iron deficiency can include pale skin, spoon-shaped nails, sore, cracked skin in the corners of the mouth, and glossitis, where the tongue feels sore, smooth, and swollen. If the iron deficiency is severe enough to cause anemia, symptoms of tiredness and shortness of breath may occur.
To diagnose Plummer-Vinson syndrome, blood tests are usually needed to check iron levels. A type of x-ray known as a baryta swallow can be used to reveal the shape of the esophagus, or the swallowing process can be seen live using a technique known as video fluoroscopy. Plummer-Vinson syndrome can be treated with iron tablets, as returning iron blood levels to normal usually cures any anemia and improves swallowing ability. Sometimes an esophageal network has progressed too far to respond to iron supplements, in which case the narrowed esophagus can be widened using a special dilating tool or balloon.
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