Vitamin B12-deficiency anemia in infants: clinical presentation, current diagnostic and treatment

Abstract

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.