Pernicious anemia presenting with dysphagia and melanoderma: a confusing manifestation

Abstract

Vitamin B12 deficiency is widely recognized as a common cause of anemia. However, symptoms such as dysphagia, melanoderma, and pancytopenia, although less frequent, can also be associated with this deficiency. We report the case of a 47-year-old Caucasian man presented with dysphagia to solids associated to high heart rate, dyspnea and melanoderma. He was diagnosed with severe anemia (hemoglobin 4 g/dl) in association with pancytopenia. Further investigation confirmed that the underlying cause was severe vitamin B12 deficiency secondary to pernicious anemia. Subsequent treatment with vitamin B12 supplements led to a significant improvement in all symptoms. A review of the existing literature corroborated the rarity of severe anemia occurring in conjunction with dysphagia and melanoderma due to B12 deficiency.

Plain language summary

Anemia is a condition where your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. We report the case of a 47-year-old man who presented with difficulty swallowing solid food (dysphagia), a fast heart rate, difficulty breathing (dyspnea), and changes in skin color (melanoderma). After some tests, we diagnosed the patient with severe anemia and low counts of different types of blood cells (pancytopenia). The underlying cause was a severe lack of Vitamin B12, and the specific type of anemia was called pernicious anemia. Subsequent treatment with Vitamin B12 supplements led to significant improvement. Physicians should be aware of uncommon presentations of pernicious anemia to diagnose it early, avoid unnecessary investigations and to initiate rapidly simple and efficient treatment.

Executive summary

• Biermer's disease, is an autoimmune disorder specific of the gastric organ.

• Dysphagia, melanoderma and pancytopenia are rarely observed in vitamin B12 deficiency.

• Treatment with vitamin B12 supplements drastically improves these symptoms.

• Physicians should be aware of uncommon presentations of PA to diagnose it early and avoid unnecessary investigations.

Keywords: :

• dysphagia
• melanoderma
• pernicious anemia

Author contributions

S Souissi, M Ayari, I Abdellali: drafting the manuscript. R Bourguiba, S Belakhal: patient management and data collection. T Jomni, M Hedi Doggui: final approval of the manuscript.

Financial disclosure

The authors have no financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership or options and expert testimony.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained verbal and written informed consent from the patient/patients for the inclusion of their medical and treatment history within this case report.