Secondary Hemochromatosis Caused by Iron Overdose During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: A Case Report

TL;DR

A pregnant woman developed liver issues from too much iron treatment, showing that iron overload can happen even with normal-sized red blood cells.

Contribution

Highlights a rare case of secondary hemochromatosis due to iron overdose during pregnancy and postpartum.

Findings

Normocytic anemia can lead to iron overload if treated with repeated intravenous iron.

Secondary iron overload during pregnancy can cause perinatal hepatic dysfunction.

Iron therapy should be considered in the differential diagnosis for liver issues in postpartum women.

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common cause of anemia in pregnancy. Therefore, iron administration is recommended for treatment. Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy does not always result in microcytic anemia. Thus, iron may continue to be administered as diagnostic therapy, even in patients with normocytic anemia. In the present case, although the patient had normocytic anemia, repeated intravenous iron administration resulted in liver dysfunction due to secondary iron overload, which required intensive care. In pregnant women with perinatal hepatic dysfunction, iron overload secondary to iron therapy administered to correct anemia during pregnancy should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

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