Vitamin B12 deficiency: the great masquerader. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014 Apr;61(4):753-5
Date
10/12/2013Pubmed ID
24115632DOI
10.1002/pbc.24784Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84893471917 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 17 CitationsAbstract
Vitamin B12 deficiency is rare in children, with nonspecific symptoms including failure to thrive, vomiting, anorexia, and neurologic changes with or without hematologic disturbances. The neuropathy can be severe and irreversible. We report four cases of children with B12 deficiency secondary to adult type pernicious anemia, a presumed transport protein abnormality, and a metabolic defect. All demonstrated neurologic compromise that improved after initiation of B12 therapy. Hematologic manifestations may be preceded by constitutional, gastrointestinal, or neurologic changes, and must raise concern for B12 deficiency. Therapy should be initiated promptly in this setting to prevent irreversible neuropathy.
Author List
Dobrozsi S, Flood VH, Panepinto J, Scott JP, Brandow AAuthor
Veronica H. Flood MD Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Anemia, Pernicious
Child, Preschool
Failure to Thrive
Female
Humans
Male
Prognosis
Vitamin B 12
Vitamin B 12 Deficiency
