Thrombocytopenia secondary to iron deficiency anemia responding to iron therapy

Abstract

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