Background

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the second most common metabolic/bariatric surgery performed in the United States. Nutritional deficiencies are common adverse effects of the surgery, and iron deficiency anemia is especially common, occurring in up to 16% of patients in a recent meta-analysis. Prolonged iron deficiency anemia raises the possibility of development of Plummer-Vinson Syndrome (known as Paterson-Brown-Kelly syndrome in the United Kingdom), characterized by the triad of iron deficiency anemia, dysphagia and esophageal webs. In this paper we present a report of this phenomenon arising in the setting of remote history of gastric bypass, review characteristic hematopathology and laboratory findings, and discuss the pathophysiology and treatment considerations.