Pancytopenia Associated with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: A Case Report

Abstract

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is one of the least clearly understood feeding and eating disorders, and there are no guidelines for its treatment. Patients with ARFID often present comorbid psychiatric disorders. The feeding and eating disorders can present with pancytopenia associated with poor nutritional status. Our aim is to present a clinical case of pancytopenia in a patient with ARFID. The case concerns a 20‑year‑old man hospitalized with pancytopenia. It was diagnosed ARFID and comorbid generalized anxiety disorder. Cognitive behavior therapy was implemented, and after six months there was an improvement in the feeding behavior, with greater diversity of ingested food and remission of pancytopenia. This is the first documented case of ARFID with pancytopenia. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial not only for the correct diagnosis, but also for the effective treatment with relapse prevention.