The tongue and oesophagus in iron-deficiency anaemia and the effect of iron therapy

Abstract

University of Sheffield sYNPosis Biopsies of the tongue and oesophagus were performed on 14 patients with uncomplicated iron-deficiency anaemia before and after treatment with iron. Haemoglobin and serum iron estimations were performed at the same time.Nine patients had clinical evidence of atrophic changes in the tongue before therapy was started. Evidence of regeneration appeared within one or two weeks of starting iron therapy. Two patients showed persistent atrophy. Angular stomatitis and koilonychia were longer in disappearing.Biopsies confirmed that filiform papillae and kerato-hyalin granules are frequently absent from the epithelium of the smooth tongues of iron-deficient patients. Iron therapy is followed by the re-appearance of keratohyalin granules and keratinized filiform papillae.Two patients complained of dysphagia, which disappeared after treatment. No abnormality in the oesophageal epithelium was found in any of the patients either before or after therapy. The relationship of oesophageal carcinoma to antecedent iron-deficiency epithelial changes is considered suspect.

Disaccharidase levels in normal epithelium of the small intestine of rats with iron-deficiency anemia

“…It has been demonstrated that this type of deficiency affects growth, mental performance, muscle capacity, thermogenesis, and immunity (6)(7)(8). As far as the digestive tract is concerned, irondeficiency anemia is known to be associated with stomatitis and glossitis (9)(10)(11)(12), with reduction of gastric acid secretion (13), abnormal absorption (14), and changes in intestinal permeability (15).…”

Pathogenesis and consequences of Plummer-Vinson syndrome

“…This uncommon syndrome of Paterson-Kelly, sometimes named the syndrome of Plummer-Vinson, the syndrome of Waldenstr6m and Kyellberg or sideropenic dysphagia, is mostly seen in middle-aged women from Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon countries [12]. In 1922 Plummer described this syndrome as "hysterical dysphagia" [1].…”

Clinical Trial of Iron Therapy on Psychomotor Function in Anaemic Women

“…The activity of certain enzyme systems is altered in iron deficiency (Beutler, 1959;Jacobs, 1961;Dagg et al, 1966). These changes have been suggested as a cause of certain effects, including symptoms (Baird et al, 1961) and in particular fatigue (Beutler el al., 1960).…”