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    Pediatrics. 2010 Oct;126(4):e967-70. doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-2975. Epub 2010 Sep 20.

    Vitamin B12 optic neuropathy in autism.

    Source

    Neuro-ophthalmology Service, Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

    Abstract

    Dietary vitamin B12 deficiency was identified as a cause of partially reversible optic neuropathy in 3 autistic children. All of the affected children presented with gradual visual loss. Examination revealed optic atrophy, and further questioning regarding diet revealed that all 3 children had severe food selectivity and highly stereotyped diets that resulted in an almost total lack of animal products in their diets. Vitamin B12 levels were low in all 3 children. Treatment with intramuscular vitamin B12 and normalization of vitamin B12 levels resulted in improvement of visual functioning in all 3 children. These cases illustrate that food selectivity, a known complication of autism, can result in vitamin deficiency that can cause visual loss and optic atrophy. Physicians must have a high index of suspicion when evaluating children with autism and visual loss to detect this rare cause of optic atrophy.

    PMID:
    20855389
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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