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Megaloblastic anemia

Megaloblastic anemia is anemia resulting from a deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid. more...

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Medicines

Causes

  • nutritional defects (vitamin B12 is mainly from animal sources, and vegans may require supplementation)
  • chronic liver diseases
  • decreased production of intrinsic factor (this disease entity is called pernicious anemia)
  • intestinal malabsorption (due to an enteritis, celiac disease or other causes).
  • fish tab worm infestation (Diphyllobothrium latum)

Hematological findings

The blood film can point towards vitamin deficiency:

  • Decreased red blood cell (RBC) count and hemoglobin levels
  • Increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV, >100 fl) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
  • The reticulocyte count is normal
  • The platelet count may reduced.
  • Neutrophil granulocytes may show multisegmented nuclei ("senile neutophil"). This is thought to be due to decreased production and a compensatory prolonged lifespan for circulating neutrophils.
  • Anisocytosis (increased variation in RBC size) and poikilocytosis (abnormally shaped RBCs).
  • Macrocytes (larger than normal RBCs) are present.
  • Ovalocytes (oval shaped RBCs) are present.
  • Bone marrow (not normally checked in a patient suspected of megaloblastic anemia) shows megaloblastic hyperplasia.

Analysis

The Schilling test is often performed to determine the nature of the vitamin B12 deficiency.

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Megaloblastic anemia--Part II.(Practitioners Section) : An article from: Indian Journal of Medical Sciences $5.95 Megaloblastic anemia--Part I.(Practitioners Section) : An article from: Indian Journal of Medical Sciences $5.95
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine : Vitamin B<SUB>12</SUB> ; $3.90 Role of myeloperoxidase index in differentiation of megaloblastic and aplastic anemia. : An article from: Indian Journal of Medical Sciences $5.95
Nutritional megaloblastic anemias (Diagnostic criteria) Megaloblastic anaemia
Idiopathic chronic megaloblastic anemia in children (Acta paediatrica. Supplementum) Folates and Cobalamines $126.00

Intrathecal methotrexate-induced megaloblastic anemia in patients with acute leukemia
Objective.-To evaluate the occurrence of megaloblastic anemia induced by the infusion of therapeutic or prophylactic methotrexate in patients with acute ...
From Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, 9/1/99 by Sallah, Sabah
Macrocytic anemia
In approximately 2 to 4 percent of patients, laboratory evidence of macrocytosis is found. Macrocytic anemias are classified as those resulting from disorders ...
From American Family Physician, 1/1/96 by John Davenport
Anemia
Anemia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.
From Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, 4/6/01 by Paula Ford-Martin
Pernicious anemia
Pernicious anemia is a disease in which the red blood cells are abnormally formed, due to an inability to absorb vitamin B12. True pernicious ...
From Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 4/6/01 by Rosalyn S. Carson-DeWitt
Anemia
Deficiency of red cells, or hemoglobin, in the blood.
From Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence, 4/6/01
Folate use in patients with sickle cell anemia - Tips - Author Abstract
Patients with sickle cell anemia often are given folate supplementation on the premise that their chronic hemolytic anemia might lead to folate depletion.
From American Family Physician, 1/1/04 by Bill Zepf
Anemias
Anemia is a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin (the component of red blood cells that delivers oxygen ...
From Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 4/6/01 by Maureen Haggerty

Vitamin B12


Cobalamin, also known as B12, is a member of the water-soluble family of B vitamins. It is a key factor in the body's proper use of iron and ...
From Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, 4/6/01 by Judith Turner

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