vitamin-b-12 and Anemia--Refractory

A diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome, refractory anemia subtype, was made in an elderly Indian woman on the basis of a refractory macrocytic anemia with normal vitamin B(12) and folate assays, normal thyroid function, essentially normal liver function and normal cytogenetic analysis. Disease evolution revealed that the diagnosis was erroneous.

Topics: Aged; Anemia, Macrocytic; Anemia, Pernicious; Anemia, Refractory; Diagnostic Errors; Diet, Vegetarian; Female; Humans; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Vitamin B 12

A rare case of long-term bone marrow failure with skin pigmentation is presented. The patient was a female with a long history of anemia and skin pigmentation since childhood, although she had no malformations nor chromosomal abnormalities. Hematological improvement has been maintained by the administration of prednisolone. This case may differ from other disorders known as congenital aplastic anemia.

Topics: Addison Disease; Anemia, Megaloblastic; Anemia, Refractory; Child; Chromosome Aberrations; Fanconi Anemia; Female; Graves Disease; Hemochromatosis; Humans; Pancytopenia; Pigmentation Disorders; Skin Pigmentation; Steroids; Vitamin B 12

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Anemia, Macrocytic; Anemia, Refractory; Diagnosis, Differential; Folic Acid; Folic Acid Deficiency; Humans; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are disorders characterized by a profound impairment of proliferation and maturation of hematopoietic cells. The prognosis is poor owing to the occurrence of severe cytopenia or to the common leukemic transformation of these conditions. At present there is no available effective treatment for patients with MDS. A patient is reported with simple refractory anemia which responded to therapy with high doses of maturative factors (folic acid and vitamin B12). This therapy resulted in the disappearance of transfusion requirements and in the increase of peripheral blood cell counts. It is concluded that, in view of the lack of toxicity of the treatment with madurative factors, this therapy should be attempted in a sequential fashion in all patients with MSD.

Topics: Anemia, Refractory; Folic Acid; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Vitamin B 12