Plummer Vinson Syndrome

Question: What are the symptoms of plummer vinson's syndrome? I asked a question about bendy weak fingernails and low iron and someone here diagnosed me with this... oy. So I looked it up in "discover" questions but the other symptoms are all medical terminology I don't understand. Can you do a layman's overview for me?

Answer: Bozz Mozz - I hope the folowing terminology will be helpful to understand symptoms of this disorder (syndrome = combination of findings). The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Plummer-Vinson syndrome includes the 14 symptoms listed below: Throat pain during swallowing Burning sensation during swallowing Sensation of food stuck in larynx Fatigue Pallor Pale inside of mouth Sideropenic (= iron-deficiency) anemia Hypochromic (paleness of red cells) anemia Swallowing difficulty Mucosal webs in esophagus Spoon-shaped fingernails Smooth tongue Red tongue Painful tongue

Question: Ever heard of Plummer-Vinson's syndrome? This condition may also be called Paterson's syndrome or Sideropenic dysphagia. I think I may have this and need to know anything there is about this.

Answer: Plummer-Vinson or Paterson-Kelly syndrome presents as a classical triad of dysphagia, iron-deficiency anemia and esophageal webs. Exact data about epidemiology of the syndrome are not available; the syndrome is extremely rare. Most of the patients are white middle-aged women, in the fourth to seventh decade of life but the syndrome has also been described in children and adolescents. The dysphagia is usually painless and intermittent or progressive over years, limited to solids and sometimes associated with weight loss. Symptoms resulting from anemia (weakness, pallor, fatigue, tachycardia) may dominate the clinical picture. Additional features are glossitis, angular cheilitis and koilonychia. Enlargement of the spleen and thyroid may also be observed. One of the most important clinical aspects of Plummer-Vinson syndrome is the association with upper alimentary tract cancers. Etiopathogenesis of Plummer-Vinson syndrome is unknown. The most important possible etiological factor is iron deficiency. Other possible factors include malnutrition, genetic predisposition or autoimmune processes. Plummer-Vinson syndrome can be treated effectively with iron supplementation and mechanical dilation. In case of significant obstruction of the esophageal lumen by esophageal web and persistent dysphagia despite iron supplementation, rupture and dilation of the web are necessary. Since Plummer-Vinson syndrome is associated with an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and the esophagus, the patients should be followed closely. Hope this helps