Macrocytic anemia natural history, complications and prognosis
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Omer Kamal, M.D.[2]
Overview
The symptoms of megaloblastic anemia typically develop many years after defieciency of Vitamin B12. If left untreated, patients with megaloblastic anemia may progress to develop Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord, Peripheral neuropathy, and Dementia.
Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis
Natural History
- The symptoms of megaloblastic anemia typically develop many years after defieciency of Vitamin B12. [1]
- If left untreated, patients with megaloblastic anemia may progress to develop Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord, Peripheral neuropathy, and Dementia.
Complications
- Common complications of megaloblastic anemia include:[2]
- Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord
- Pyrexia of unknown origin[3]
- Damage to the nervous system
- Long-term neurologic complications.
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Dementia.
Prognosis
- Prognosis is generally good with folate and vitamin B12 supplemntation[4]
References
- ↑ O’Leary F, Samman S (March 2010). “Vitamin B12 in health and disease”. Nutrients. 2 (3): 299–316. doi:10.3390/nu2030299. PMC 3257642. PMID 22254022.
- ↑ Aslinia F, Mazza JJ, Yale SH (September 2006). “Megaloblastic anemia and other causes of macrocytosis”. Clin Med Res. 4 (3): 236–41. PMC 1570488. PMID 16988104.
- ↑ Siddiqui B, Rabindranath D, Faridi SH, Khan AA, Haiyat S, Eswaran R (2015). “Megaloblastic anemia: A common but often neglected cause of pyrexia of unknown origin”. J Transl Int Med. 3 (2): 64–67. doi:10.1515/jtim-2015-0005. PMC 4936446. PMID 27847889.
- ↑ Sharabi A, Cohen E, Sulkes J, Garty M (December 2003). “Replacement therapy for vitamin B12 deficiency: comparison between the sublingual and oral route”. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 56 (6): 635–8. PMC 1884303. PMID 14616423.
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