Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency

_{Vitamin B12} deficiency, like folate deficiency, causes megaloblastic anemia. In true pernicious anemia, vitamin B12 absorption is impaired _due to antibodies to the intrinsic factor. Unlike folate deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency _can cause spinal cord degeneration. Although megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency _can be treated with folate, this drug should never be prescribed for pernicious anemia, as it not only fails to improve the condition of patients with neurological disorders, but can even worsen it. Vitamin B12 concentration testing _is used to diagnose macrocytic and megaloblastic anemia. It should be borne in mind that vitamin B12 deficiency _develops slowly, over many years (up to 12 years after gastrectomy).

Diseases and conditions that may alter serum vitamin _{B12 levels}

Increased concentration of vitamin B 12

Decreased concentration of vitamin B 12

Acute hepatitis Hepatic coma Chronic liver disease (liver cirrhosis) Acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia Erythromyelosis Monocytic leukemia Lymphocytic leukemia Liver cancer metastases

Megaloblastic anemia Addison-Biermer disease Condition after gastrointestinal resection Chronic inflammatory diseases and anatomical defects of the small intestine Worm infestation Alcoholism Nutritional deficiency of B 12 Small bowel irradiation Atrophic gastritis Malabsorption Vitamin deficiency in food (vegetarians) Pregnancy Taking cytostatics, aminosalicylic acid, aminoglycosides, ascorbic acid, phenytoin, phenobarbital

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