Siriraj Medical Journal (Nov 2016)

Complete Recovery from Iron-Induced Esophageal Ulcer While Continuing Pill Ingestion

  • Piyakorn Poonyam,
  • Asawin Sudcharoen,
  • Therdkiat Trongwongsa,
  • Piyanant Chonmaitree

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14456/smj.2016.27
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 68, no. 6
pp. 377 – 380

Abstract

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Iron is one of the common causes of pill-induced esophagitis with a proposed mechanism involving direct esophageal injury. Diagnostic endoscopic finding includes finding an intact pill or its residue on endoscopy, but they are rarely found. Pathology typically reveals luminal brown-black crystalline materials adjacent to the injured surface epithelium or in combination with luminal fibroinflammatory exudate. Brown crystalline material on Perl’s staining is the typical finding of iron-induced esophagitis. Crucial treatment is cessation of medication. We report an elderly woman diagnosed with iron-induced esophageal ulcer whose ulcers improved while iron medication was maintained.

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