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1: Rev Prat. 1993 Jun 1;43(11):1358-63.Links

[Anemias due to disorder of folate, vitamin B12 and transcobalamin metabolism]

[Article in French]

Zittoun J.

Laboratoire central d'hématologie-immunologie, hôpital Henri-Mondor, Créteil.

Macrocytic megaloblastic anemia is the most typical but the latest sign of a cobalamin (vitamin B12) and/or folic acid deficiency or of a congenital abnormality of cobalamin and folate metabolism. Macrocytosis in blood and megaloblastosis in bone marrow are the morphological features of a disturbance in cell division related to a defect in DNA biosynthesis. Macrocytosis without anemia, normocytic normochronic anemia with a low reticulocyte cell count or microcytic hypochromic anemia in case of associated iron deficiency do not exclude a vitamin deficiency. Neurological or psychiatric disorders and immune abnormalities have been reported in patients with vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies or in children with congenital abnormalities of these 2 vitamins; such manifestations may even occur without anemia.

PMID: 8235383 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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  • Folic Acid (Folvite® )

    Folic acid is used to treat or prevent folic acid deficiency. It is a B-complex vitamin needed by the body to manufacture red blood cells. A deficiency of this vitamin causes certain types of anemia (low red blood cell c...

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