Open AccessSubacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord in functional vitamin B12 Deficiency states
Author(s) -
Christina Englezou,
AUTHOR_ID,
Di Liang,
AUTHOR_ID
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advances in clinical neuroscience and rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2397-267X
pISSN - 1473-9348
DOI - 10.47795/buwp1560
Subject(s) - vitamin b12 , subacute combined degeneration , pathological , spinal cord , degeneration (medical) , medicine , pathology , biology , neuroscience
Vitamin B12 is an essential enzymatic cofactor in multiple cellular metabolic pathways. Deficiency states can arise as a result of both depletion of absolute systemic levels and pathological processes that block its ability to act as an enzymatic cofactor. The latter is also known as functional vitamin B12 deficiency. This can cause a variety of systemic, haematological, and neurological manifestations, some of which may be irreversible if not promptly treated. Neurological syndromes include subacute combined degeneration of the cord (SCDC), peripheral, optic, and autonomic neuropathies, and neuropsychiatric or cognitive deficits. This review presents a case series of vitamin B12 deficiencies leading to SCDC, and we include the clinical features, significant investigations, treatments, and prognoses.