Leucopenia, Neutropenia, Lymphopenia and Monocytopenia in a 15 year Old Girl with Iron Deficiency Anemia Responding to Iron Therapy: A Case Report

Despite the high prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children, extensive information about its impact on growth and cognitive functions, less is known about how it affects the non-erythrocytes cell lines and its implications. High erythropoietin levels in severe iron deficiency anemia may down regulate the production of non- erythroid precursors resulting in various cytopenia, however, the mechanism of this is not fully understood. Reports depicting the association of iron deficiency anemia with cytopenia is quite scarce in pediatric population. We report a case of a 15 year old girl presented with severe iron deficiency anemia and leucopenia, lymphopenia, neutropenia and monocytopenia who has no other evidence of bone marrow dysfunction. The patient responded to iron therapy with prompt reversal of all cell counts. It is therefore recommended to include iron study and plasma erythropoietin concentration in the evaluation of otherwise healthy children presenting with cytopenia. Likewise, to consider iron deficiency in the causative list of non-erythroid cytopenia such as neutropenia.