Changes in serum vitamin B12 levels in patients with megaloblastic anaemia treated with folic acid

In 21 patients with megaloblastic anaemia associated with the tropical malabsorption syndrome serum vitamin B₁₂ levels have been measured serially before and during parenteral folic acid therapy.     

Selective malabsorption of vitamin B12 and vitamin B12-intrinsic factor with megaloblastic anemia in an adult

The first case of megaloblastic anemia due to selective malabsorption of vitamin B₁₂ and vitamin B₁₂-intrinsic factor is described in an otherwise normal female adult, in whom pernicious anemia had previously been diagnosed.     

Vitamin B12 levels in erythrocytes in hypochromic anaemia

Vitamin B(12) levels in erythrocytes were low in untreated hypochromic anaemia, rose to abnormally high levels during therapy with iron alone, and finally slowly fell to normal. These changes were similar to those previously found in pernicious anaemia in response to vitamin B(12) therapy and in folate-deficiency anaemia in response to folic acid, thus changes in erythrocyte B(12) levels are not always due directly to changes in B(12) metabolism but may be secondary to changes in the levels of other haematinic factors.     

Determination of serum B12 vitamin and folic acid levels in patient with stroke

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether any relationship between stroke and vitamin B12, folic acid concentration. We examined 50 patients with stroke (male: 26 and female: 24) aged between (mean +/- SD, year) 59 +/- 14 and 16 control subjects (male: 6 and female: 10) aged between (mean +/- SD, year) 53 +/- 11. Patients were classified into two groups as infarct and hemorrhagic by using Computerised Brain Tomography and Cranial Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques. The percentage of patients with infract was 47.5% in female and 52.5% in male while it was 40% in female and 60% in male with hemorrhagic. The vitamin B12 levels of patients with infarct, hemorrhagic and control group were found as mean +/- SEM, 355 +/- 47 pg/ml, 313 +/- 58 pg/ml, 1569 +/- 258 pg/ml and folic acid levels 13.4 +/- 2.6 ng/ml, 7.7 +/- 1.0 ng/ml, 14.8 +/- 4.0 ng/ml, respectively. The significant difference was found between subgroups of patients with stroke and control group in both folic acid and B12 vitamin levels (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). But, there was no significant difference between vitamin B12 and folic acid levels of patients with hemorrhagic and infarct. In order to well understand the effects of these vitamin in patients with stroke, more detailed follow up studies with long period are needed.     

Serum levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 in Korean patients with vitiligo.

The association of vitiligo and pernicious anemia has been previously documented. The low levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 were thought to be related to vitiligo. To date, there have been very few reports about the serum levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 in patients with vitiligo. Using radioimmunoassay, we measured the serum levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 in 100 Korean patients with vitiligo. The mean serum levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 were 6.31 +/- 2.82 ng/ml and 630.25 +/- 230.94 pg/ml, respectively, in patients with vitiligo. These levels showed no significant difference compared to the normal control group, suggesting that folic acid and vitamin B12 do not appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.     

Vitamin B12 levels in erythrocytes in normal subjects and in pernicious anaemia

A reliable method is described for the assay of vitamin B(12) activity in erythrocytes using Lactobacillus leichmannii. The results are shown for age, sex, and blood group in normal subjects, and before, during, and after therapy in vitamin B(12) deficiency anaemia.The normal range is 85-225 pg/ml (mean = 155 +/- 35 pg/ml). Raised levels were found in the newborn, and subnormal levels in subjects aged 70 years and over and in males aged 10 to 19 years. There were no differences in erythrocyte vitamin B(12) levels between the ABO or Rhesus blood groups.In pernicious anaemia low levels are found before treatment (mean = 91 pg/ml), followed by a rapid rise during vitamin B(12) therapy (mean peak = 482 pg/ml), and falling more slowly towards normal after the initial haematological response.     

Malabsorption of vitamin B12 in dermatitis herpetiformis and its association with pernicious anaemia

Serum vitamin B12 concentrations were determined in 129 patients and a pentagastrin test performed in 116 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH). Low serum vitamin B12 levels were found in 27 patients (21%) and achlorhydria in 30. Forty-two patients with achlorhydria and/or vitamin B12 deficiency were subjected to further haematological and gastrointestinal investigations. Functional or morphological involvement of the small intestine was seen in almost all patients with vitamin B12 deficiency but, in addition, atrophic gastritis resulting in defective secretion of intrinsic factor (pernicious anaemia) was found in 8 cases (7% of all DH patients). Thus, a low vitamin B12 level in DH patients should result in a careful gastrointestinal examination as both an atrophic gastritis and a coeliac-like enteropathy have further clinical implications.