Case Reports
Two unusual presentations of vitamin B12 Deficiency.
Authors:
Udara Priyadarshani Edirisinghe ,
Colombo South Teaching Hospital, LK
F. H. D. Shehan Silva
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, LK
Abstract
Vitamin B12, a water-soluble vitamin is important in DNA synthesis. Inadequate intake of animal foods and pernicious anaemia (loss of intrinsic factor due to autoimmune atrophic gastritis) are known to be the most common causes of severe deficiency worldwide (1).
Although most of the patients with deficiency have only mild haematological findings, very few presents present with symptomatic pancytopenia, severe anaemia (haemaglobin <6 g/dL) leucoerythroblastic blood picture with haemolysis and organomegaly, mimicking haematological malignancy, as in patient A.
Cutaneous manifestations including poor wound healing and hair changes could also be presenting complaints as in patient B. So in this case series we present two cases with uncommon clinical manifestations due to vitamin B12 deficiency and the marked clinical response with the adequate B12 replacement.
How to Cite:
Edirisinghe, U.P. and Silva, F.H.D.S., 2023. Two unusual presentations of vitamin B12 Deficiency.. Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, 10(1), pp.E203 1–5. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jpgim.8379
Published on
19 Jan 2023.
Peer Reviewed
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