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Low serum cobalamin levels occur frequently in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome and related disorders
Author(s) -
Burkes Ronald L.,
Cohen Hartley,
Krailo Mark,
Sinow Robert M.,
Carmel Ralph
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1987.tb01152.x
Subject(s) - cobalamin , malabsorption , medicine , abnormality , multiple myeloma , bone marrow , intrinsic factor , cyanocobalamin , gastroenterology , immunology , vitamin b12 , psychiatry
Low serum cobalamin levels in 10 patients with AIDS or AIDS‐related complex led us to also prospectively survey 40 homosexual men in our AIDS clinic. 8 of the latter (20%) had low cobalamin values. We found no evidence of megaloblastic changes in the blood or bone marrow. Assessment disclosed malabsorption of cobalamin in only 1 of 6 cases tested for it. 6 of the patients were treated with cobalamin and had no hematologic response. It appears that low serum cobalamin levels in AIDS and related disorders do not usually represent overt cobalamin deficiency. While malabsorption is occasionally responsible for the low cobalamin level, in most cases the cause is unknown and may reflect a serum abnormality similar to that in multiple myeloma. AIDS and related disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained low cobalamin levels.