Open AccessVitamin B12-deficiency anemia in infants: clinical presentation, current diagnostic and treatment
Author(s) -
М. А. Лунякова,
В. Г. Демихов,
С. Н. Дронова,
Ю. Ю. Калинина,
О. Н. Журина
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
voprosy gematologii/onkologii i immunopatologii v pediatrii
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.108
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2414-9314
pISSN - 1726-1708
DOI - 10.24287/1726-1708-2019-18-3-70-77
Subject(s) - cobalamin , lethargy , vitamin b12 , anemia , pancytopenia , medicine , pediatrics , failure to thrive , megaloblastic anemia , malabsorption , pernicious anemia , bone marrow
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency in infants exclusively breastfed is usually the result of its deficiency in the mothers (vegetarians or in the presence of unrecognized pernicious anemia or malabsorption syndrome). Cobalamin is crucial for the normal development of the nervous system, the production of erythrocytes and the synthesis of DNA. The classic manifestation of its deficiency is megaloblastic anemia and, in advanced cases, pancytopenia. However, infants often present neurological symptoms (fatigue, failure to thrive, regress of developmental skills, lethargy, motor disorders), as a consequence of inadequate myelination of the brain. Cobalamin treatment is effective in the most children, however, the neurological deficit varying degrees may persist. The long-term prognosis depends on overall duration of vitamin B12 deficiency and severity of symptoms. The article presents our own interesting clinical observations. Parents gave their permission for using personal data for clinical research and publications.