Thrombocytopenia secondary to iron deficiency anemia respond to Iron with a transient drop in platelets

A case report

Mahmoud S Eisa¹, Mustafa A Al-Tikrity¹, Mona M. Babikikir¹, Mohamed A Yassin²

Hamad Medical Corporation – Doha – Qatar

^1, Internal Medicine Department, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation – Doha – Qatar

² Hematology Department, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation – Doha – Qatar

Corresponding Author :

Dr. Mustafa A Al-Tikrity

Department of Internal Medicine

Hamad Medical Corporation

Doha, Qatar, AlRayyan Street.

P.O. Box 3050

Email: mustafaakramyousif@gmail.com

Maltikrity@hamad.qa

Abstract

Usually, IDA is associated with thrombocytosis or normal platelets; however, in rare cases, IDA can be associated with thrombocytopenia; even though thrombocytopenia that occurs with IDA responds to Iron therapy. Iron therapy rarely causes transient thrombocytopenia per se.

A broad spectrum of diseases can cause anemia and thrombocytopenia. Some of these diseases are a hematological emergency; others are benign diseases, so early and accurate diagnosis is crucial in managing such patients.

We are reporting an African female patient who is found to has thrombocytopenia secondary to iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and she responded to iron replacement therapy initially with a transient drop in platelets, followed by a gradual rise in platelets till platelets reached to the normal level.