An adolescent male presented with recurrent episodes over several years of severe iron deficiency anemia and associated severe thrombocytopenia. The anemia was secondary to chronic blood loss due to ulceration at the site of an ileocolonic anastomosis performed during infancy. We were able to demonstrate complete resolution of thrombocytopenia with the administration of iron, and without using steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, or platelet transfusions. This is the first reported case of an individual with multiple episodes over several years of thrombocytopenia secondary to recurrent severe iron deficiency anemia, illustrating a predisposition to this complication in a unique patient.
Spleen rupture in an extremely premature newborn is very rare event. High index of suspicion is required to make timely diagnosis and thereafter appropriate management. We present a rare case of an extremely premature, extremely low birthweight newborn who presented with severe anemia secondary to splenic rupture. It was managed conservatively without splenectomy resulting in complete resolution of symptoms. Although non-operative management of pediatric splenic injuries is now recognized as the treatment of choice, there is very little experience in premature newborns.
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