We herein report a 47-year-old woman who developed migraine-like headache with aura and subsequent multiple cerebral infarcts, likely due to severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA) from menorrhagia. The progression from IDA to ischemic stroke involves several pathophysiological mechanisms, including reduction of erythrocyte deformability, reactive thrombocytosis, and anemic hypoxia. We speculate that a microembolus first caused cortical spreading depression without infarcts and that a larger thromboembolus then caused multiple infarcts. This case highlights the transition from migraine-like headache to ischemic stroke. New-onset migraine-like headache is a warning of impending ischemic stroke, and IDA may be a potential underlying cause.

BACKGROUND:  The increasing availability of serological testing & upper endoscopy has led to more frequent diagnosis of celiac disease & recognition that it may mimic Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
OBJECTIVE:  The objective of the present case report is to describe the importance of screening those with vague abdominal symptoms (like patients with IBS) and iron deficiency anemia for celiac disease.
METHODS:  We report the clinical course of a 30-year-old patient with vague abdominal symptoms initially misdiagnosed as having IBS; when the patient presented in our clinic, he was noted to have iron-deficiency anemia. On work-up for the cause of iron deficiency anemia, he was found to have celiac disease on basis of positive serological tests and small bowel biopsy result. After being placed on gluten-free diet, plus iron supplements, his abdominal symptoms and iron deficiency anemia totally improved.
CONCLUSIONS:  Our case demonstrates that routine screening for celiac disease should highly be considered for patients with iron-deficiency anemia and IBS.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare cause of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). It is associated with a high mortality rate and recurrent episodes of widespread alveolar hemorrhage and most commonly affects children. Here, we present a rare occurrence of late-onset idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in a 74-year-old male. He was admitted for non-resolving pneumonia, hemoptysis, and type 1 respiratory failure, along with sideropenic anemia. Chest imaging showed bilateral upper lobe and right middle lobe alveolar opacities. Infective and autoimmune etiologies of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage were ruled out during the evaluation. Transbronchial lung biopsy showed patchy alveolar hemorrhage and abundant hemosiderin pigment deposition, revealing idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. The patient was successfully treated with oral steroids, followed by complete radiological resolution without clinical relapse at one-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the fetal cardiac functions between pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and healthy controls.
METHODS: This single-center, prospective, case-control study was conducted at a tertiary hospital. A total of 150 patients, including 50 patients with IDA and 100 healthy pregnant women at 30-34 weeks of gestation, were included in the study. Of the patients with anemia, 20 had mild anemia, 18 had moderate anemia, and 12 had severe anemia. Pulsed-wave Doppler, M-mode, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) were performed to evaluate fetal cardiac functions. The fetal cardiac score was calculated using the systolic, diastolic, and global hemodynamic function parameters.
RESULTS: The myocardial performance index and isovolumetric relaxation time were significantly higher in the IDA group than the control group, while isovolumetric contraction time was similar. Among the tricuspid and mitral valve diastolic parameters, the E, A, and E/A values were significantly lower in the IDA group (p<0.001). Mitral and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursions (MAPSE and TAPSE, respectively) were significantly lower in the IDA group (p<0.001). The IDA group also had significantly lower values for the TDI parameters, mitral and tricuspid E\', A\', S\', E\'/A\' and a significantly higher E/E\' ratio (p<0.001). Upon examination of anemia subgroups, a significant decrease was observed in the tricuspid and mitral A, E, and E/A in those with severe anemia (p<0.001). M-mode Doppler analysis revealed significantly lower TAPSE and MAPSE in the patient group with severe anemia. According to the subgroup comparison of TDI findings, the patients with severe anemia had significantly lower tricuspid and mitral E\', A\', S\' and E\'/A\' (p<0.001) values and a significantly higher E/E\' ratio (p<0.001). The fetal cardiac score was significantly higher in the maternal IDA group compared to the control group. A significant negative correlation was found between maternal hemoglobin level and fetal cardiac score (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: There may be changes in the systolic and diastolic cardiac functions of the fetuses of pregnant women with IDA. This study showed an increased E/E\' ratio in the fetuses of pregnant women with IDA, suggesting a decrease in fetal heart maturation. Within the IDA group, fetal cardiac functions were more affected in those with severe anemia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the association between lice infestation and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). The head lice, known as Pediculosis humanus capitis, and the body lice, known as Pediculosis humanus corporis, are responsible for causing these infestations. This case report focuses on the clinical findings of a 63-year-old woman who sought medical attention in the emergency department because of severe pruritus and generalized pain. Upon initial physical examination, the patient was found to have a severe lice infestation, and laboratory findings revealed IDA (Hb: 6.8 g/dL, MCV: 70 fL, iron: 21 mcg/dL) and hypereosinophilia (3,500/μL). Treatment involved the administration of Permethrin 1% lotion, Ivermectin, and intravenous iron sucrose supplementation. On the fifth day of presentation, the patient\'s hemoglobin level improved to 8.6 g/dL, and the eosinophil count decreased to 2,000/μL. Despite extensive investigation of the patient\'s IDA and hypereosinophilia, no clear etiology of IDA was identified. Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with hypereosinophilia and IDA, secondary to severe chronic pediculosis. This case report aims to raise awareness of the possibility of severe pediculosis as a risk factor for iron deficiency and hypereosinophilia.

Rendu-Osler-Weber disease or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare autosomal dominant disease. It is characterized by vascular dysplasia with the formation of telangiectasias on the skin, mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the internal organs, which is manifested by bleeding. Diagnosis is based on Curacao criteria: recurrent and spontaneous nosebleeds, multiple telangiectases on the characteristic localizations, AVMs in one or more of the internal organs, a family history of HHT (i.e. first-degree relative who meets these same criteria for definite HHT). Therapy is aimed at preventing and stopping gastrointestinal, nosebleeds, correction of iron deficiency anemia. A promising method of therapy is the use of angiogenesis inhibitors, in particular bevacizumab. The article presents a description of a clinical case of HHT in a 49-year-old woman with telangiectisia on the mucous membrane of the tongue, gastrointestinal tract and liver AVMs.
Болезнь Рандю–Ослера–Вебера, или наследственная геморрагическая телеангиоэктазия (НГТ) – редкое генетическое заболевание, наследуемое по аутосомно-доминантному типу. Характеризуется сосудистыми дисплазиями с образованием телеангиоэктазий на коже, слизистых оболочках респираторного и пищеварительного трактов, артериовенозными мальформациями (АВМ) во внутренних органах, что проявляется кровоточивостью. Диагноз устанавливают на основании критериев Кюрасао: спонтанные рецидивирующие носовые кровотечения, наличие множественных телеангиоэктазий характерных локализаций, наличие АВМ, а также семейный анамнез (установленный диагноз НГТ у родственника 1-й степени родства). Терапия заболевания направлена на предупреждение и купирование желудочно-кишечных, носовых кровотечений, коррекцию железодефицитной анемии. Перспективным методом терапии является применение ингибиторов ангиогенеза, в частности бевацизумаба. В статье представлено описание клинического случая НГТ у женщины 49 лет с телеангиоэктазиями на слизистой языка, желудочно-кишечного тракта, а также АВМ печени.

Hookworm infection is an important cause of iron deficiency anemia, especially in heavily infected high-risk populations residing in underdeveloped tropical countries. Stool examination is the main method used for hookworm diagnosis; however, its sensitivity is relatively low. Hookworm infections have been incidentally diagnosed during routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. We present the case of a 60-year-old Ethiopian farmer who had severe iron deficiency anemia and positive occult blood in the stool. Repeated stool examinations revealed no ova or parasites. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed the presence of hookworms in the duodenum. The patient was treated with albendazole and ferrous sulfate. Careful endoscopic examination of the duodenum is crucial for identifying unsuspected hookworm infection responsible for chronic gastrointestinal bleeding and iron deficiency anemia.

An adolescent male with fatigue, weight loss, and iron-deficiency anemia failed to improve with iron supplementation and a gluten-free diet. Endoscopy revealed collagenous gastritis. Pediatric patients with refractory iron deficiency and family history of autoimmune disorders should be referred to pediatric gastroenterology for evaluation of collagenous gastritis and celiac disease.

A 72-year-old man visited cardiology for exertional chest pain, lightheadedness, and fatigue. Six years prior, he was surgically treated for cutaneous malignant melanoma of the lower back. After a negative cardiac work-up, primary care diagnosed severe iron deficiency anemia. Emergent upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy revealed simultaneous melanoma metastases to the stomach and colon with discrete macroscopic features. Metastatic disease, including brain, lung, and bone, was discovered on imaging. Treatment included immunotherapy with nivolumab and stereotactic radiosurgery of the brain metastases, and our patient has remained in continued remission even after 2 years. Melanoma with GI tract (GIT) metastasis has a poor prognosis and rarely presents symptomatically or with synchronous gastric and colonic lesions. This case illustrates the importance of early primary care involvement to expedite work-up for multifocal GI metastases in patients with a remote melanoma history presenting with symptoms related to iron deficiency anemia (IDA).

We reported the identification of two rare α-thalassemia silent carriers with novel HBA1 mutations of CD 39 -C [Thr > Pro] (HBA1: c.114del; p.Thr39Profs*11) and CD 109 ACC > CCC [Thr > Pro] (HBA1: c.325A > C; p. Thr109Pro), respectively. The two probands were pregnant women diagnosed with mild hypochromic anemia or microcytic hypochromic anemia by routine blood tests. They started iron therapy before taking differential diagnosis from iron deficiency anemia. After wait and watch approach, they both accepted thalassemia genetic screening, which identified CD 39 -C [Thr > Pro] and CD 109 ACC > CCC [Thr > Pro], respectively. Due to inappropriate iron therapy, worse anemia and iron overload were noticed in the first proband, but no obvious side effect was found in both probands. Functional analysis showed that, relative to the wild type, CD 39 -C [Thr > Pro] considerably reduced the expression of the HBA1 protein while CD 109 ACC > CCC [Thr > Pro] only had a minor impact. Our study highlighted the importance of gestational thalassemia screening based on next-generation sequencing for identifying novel rare thalassemia variants and increased our understanding about the relationship between genotype and phenotype of α-thalassemia.