Analysis of 16 cases of Plummer Vinson syndrome in Aden 2004-2008

Abstract EN

Background : Plummer Vinson syndrome is a rare disorder which affects mainly white women.

It is characterized by dysphasia, iron deficiency and the presence of superior esophageal web.

Objectives : The objectives of this descriptive study were to analyze the occurrence of Plummer Vinson syndrome among Yemeni patients related to sex, age, and residency, and to determine the clinical, hemoglobin and endoscopic findings.

Methods : 16 confirmed cases of Plummer-Vinson syndrome were included in this descriptive study, during the period 2004 to 2008.

Results : The age of the patients ranged between 21 and 65 years, with a mean age of 42 ± 11.6 years.

Females represented 13 cases (81.3 %) and males 3 (18.7 %), with a ratio of 4.3 : 1.

Dysphasia was the dominant symptom and was seen in 14 (87.4%) of the patients and two other symptoms, epigastralgia and upper gastrointestinal bleeding were found with 6.3% each one.

All patients were with clinically detectable anemia and hemoglobin levels ranged between 6 and 10 g / dl, with a mean value 7.8 ± 1.3 g / dl.

The localization of Plummer-Vinson syndrome, in all cases, was found in the upper part of esophagus.