Severe thrombocytopenia in iron deficiency anemia.
Mild-to-moderate thrombocytopenia has been reported as an occasional finding in patients with iron deficiency. The present case describes a multiparous woman who presented with increased menorrhagia, severe anemia (3.0 g/dl) and thrombocytopenia (9,000 platelets/mm3). Her bone marrow examination showed iron deficiency, megakaryocytopenia, and erythroid hypoplasia but no other evidence of a primary marrow disorder. Her symptoms, the thrombocytopenia and the megakaryocytopenia, resolved with iron replacement. This case demonstrates the profound degree to which thrombopoiesis can be affected in iron deficiency.
D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology*
D007501:Iron