A patient who takes ferrous sulfate tablets is at risk for iron deposition disease in the upper gastrointestinal tract. One manifestation is a chronic gastritis.
Patient history: iron-deficiency anemia treated with ferrous sulfate tablets.
Clinical presentation:
(1) vague upper abdominal pain
(2) iron deficiency anemia unresponsive to iron replacement
(3) variable upper GI hemorrhage
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy:
(1) erosive gastritis, with or without antral ulcers
(2) mucosal iron deposition on biopsy
Support for the diagnosis:
(1) exclusion of other causes of gastritis
(2) improvement after oral iron pills stopped (and with alternative iron replacement)
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