Diagnostic Considerations
In a patient with combined folate and vitamin B-12 deficiency, if only the folate deficiency is recognized, folic acid supplementation may be sufficient to drive the production of active 5 methyl tetrahydrofolate (THF) in the absence of vitamin B-12. This results in improvement of the anemia but does not result in improvement of the function of other pathways dependent on B-12.
Clinically, this is apparent as a resolution of megaloblastic anemia, but with progressive dementia and long-tract neurologic deficits. This situation can be avoided by measuring levels of both vitamins, then evaluating and treating both deficiencies, if found.
Other conditions to consider include the following:
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Aplastic anemia
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Celiac disease
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Ecchymoses
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Granulocytopenia
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Hyposplenism
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Myeloproliferative disorders
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Neutropenia
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Pancytopenia
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Tapeworm infection (cestodiasis)
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Imerslund-Grasbeck disease
Go to Pediatric Chronic Anemia, Anemia of Prematurity, Donath-Landsteiner Hemolytic Anemia, Pediatric Acute Anemia, and Fanconi Anemia for complete information on these topics.
Differential Diagnoses
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Bone marrow aspirate from a patient with untreated pernicious anemia. Megaloblastic maturation of erythroid precursors is shown. Two megaloblasts occupy the center of the slide with a megaloblastic normoblast above. Photo courtesy of Marcel E Conrad, MD.