PLUMMER VINSON SYNDROME--is it common in males?
BACKGROUND
Plummer-Vinson syndrome is characterized by a triad of dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia and esophageal web. Most of the patients are middle aged women in the fourth to seventh decade of life.


OBJECTIVE
Very few cases of Plummer-Vinson syndrome affecting males have been reported. Here we report a series of male patients found to be suffering from Plummer-Vinson syndrome.


METHODS
Five males presented to us with dysphagia and fatigue of various durations, from April to August, 2012.


RESULTS
These patients were found to have iron deficiency anemia and esophageal web on subsequent investigations and were treated successfully with oral iron therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Plummer-Vinson syndrome is common in both males and females and can be successfully treated with oral iron therapy. The patients have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal malignancies and should be thoroughly evaluated for the same.
Assistant Professor of Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT), Dept of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry, India, BR.
Satvinder Singh
SS
Bakshi
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011004:Plummer-Vinson Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D035583:Rare Diseases
D007501:Iron