Martínez PL, Núñez GA, Forrellat BM, de León ONE, López González-Molleda JC

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 75-82
PDF size: 207.94 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Megaloblastic anemia is a madurative disorder of erythroid and myeloid precursors caused by deficiency of vitamin B12 and/or folic acid. It is rare in childhood and its prevalence is unknown because it is a rare disease.We report the case of a 14 month old infant with a normal psychomotor development (DPM) until 7 months after which began to lose the gained skills and had severe neurological disorders to such a degree of being studied by neurology by a progressive central nervous system disease. At physical examination pale skin and mucous membranes, loss of bilateral cocleopalpebral reflexes, no visual reflection of the 4 limbs hypertonia, hyperreflexia were found. Laboratory tests were performed reporting hemoglobin of 76 g/L, genetic tests to search for inborn errors of metabolism,mitochondrial diseases and other diseases as Tay Sachs, Gangliosidosis type 1, metachromatic leukodystrophy, all were negative. The dosage of vitamin B12 was 91 pg/mL, and megaloblastic anemia was diagnosed. At the beginning of the treatment with vitamin B12 there was a rapid clinical recovery, the severe neurological disorders were completely reversing. Vitamin B12 deficiency should be suspected in infants with anemia and neurological disorders especially if the mother´s feeding before and during pregnancy and lactation is not adequate.