Abstract
Vitamin B12 deficiency is common, with most patients lacking classic features of advanced severe deficiency. Early diagnosis and treatment prevent severe anemia and irreversible damage to the nervous system. We describe a 34-year-old man with pernicious anemia who presented with clinical and radiologic features of early myelopathy and borderline low serum levels of vitamin B12. Prompt diagnosis based on the measurement of serum methylmalonic acid and treatment with cyanocobalamin injections led to rapid resolution of clinical manifestations and magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities. We review the literature of magnetic resonance imaging in vitamin B12 deficiency myelopathy and discuss the issues relating to diagnosis and early treatment of this potentially reversible condition.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 291-294 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Mayo Clinic Proceedings |
| Volume | 77 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - 2002 |
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Keywords
- MMA = methylmalonic acid
- MRI = magnetic resonance imaging
- SCD = subacute combined degeneration
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Reversible myelopathy in a 34-year-old man with vitamin B12 deficiency. / Pittock, Sean J; Payne, Troy A.; Harper, C. Michel.
In: Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Vol. 77, No. 3, 2002, p. 291-294.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Reversible myelopathy in a 34-year-old man with vitamin B12 deficiency
AU - Pittock, Sean J
AU - Payne, Troy A.
AU - Harper, C. Michel
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Vitamin B12 deficiency is common, with most patients lacking classic features of advanced severe deficiency. Early diagnosis and treatment prevent severe anemia and irreversible damage to the nervous system. We describe a 34-year-old man with pernicious anemia who presented with clinical and radiologic features of early myelopathy and borderline low serum levels of vitamin B12. Prompt diagnosis based on the measurement of serum methylmalonic acid and treatment with cyanocobalamin injections led to rapid resolution of clinical manifestations and magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities. We review the literature of magnetic resonance imaging in vitamin B12 deficiency myelopathy and discuss the issues relating to diagnosis and early treatment of this potentially reversible condition.
AB - Vitamin B12 deficiency is common, with most patients lacking classic features of advanced severe deficiency. Early diagnosis and treatment prevent severe anemia and irreversible damage to the nervous system. We describe a 34-year-old man with pernicious anemia who presented with clinical and radiologic features of early myelopathy and borderline low serum levels of vitamin B12. Prompt diagnosis based on the measurement of serum methylmalonic acid and treatment with cyanocobalamin injections led to rapid resolution of clinical manifestations and magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities. We review the literature of magnetic resonance imaging in vitamin B12 deficiency myelopathy and discuss the issues relating to diagnosis and early treatment of this potentially reversible condition.
KW - MMA = methylmalonic acid
KW - MRI = magnetic resonance imaging
KW - SCD = subacute combined degeneration
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036183572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036183572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 11888035
AN - SCOPUS:0036183572
VL - 77
SP - 291
EP - 294
JO - Mayo Clinic Proceedings
JF - Mayo Clinic Proceedings
SN - 0025-6196
IS - 3
ER -