vitamin-b-12 and Pneumonia

We report two cases of transient significantly elevated plasma cobalamin (B12) in geriatric patients acutely admitted with fever, increased C-reactive protein and X-ray verified pneumonia. Extensive diagnostic workup did not reveal kidney or liver disease, neither any signs of cancer. Furthermore, none of the patients had received therapeutic B12 supplementation prior to admission. In both cases, plasma B12 normalized at an out-patient control few months later. We were not able to identify the reason for the initial B12 elevation in any of the patients, since none of the usually recognized causes were evident. Since both patients had an infection and temporarily elevated B12, we suggest a possible inflammatory response or a vitamin B12 production by the infectious agents as the cause. Both suggestions, however, need further exploration.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Pneumonia; Vitamin B 12

Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between poor vitamin D status and respiratory infections and diarrhea among young children. Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) and diarrhea are among the two most important causes of death in under-5 children. In this paper, we examined the extent to which vitamin-D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) predicts ALRI, clinical pneumonia and diarrhea among 6 to 30 months old children.. We used data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of daily folic acid and/or vitamin B12 supplementation for six months in 6 to 30 months old children conducted in Delhi, India. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine the associations between vitamin-D deficiency and episodes of ALRI, clinical pneumonia and diarrhea.. Of the 960 subjects who had vitamin-D concentrations measured, 331(34.5%) were vitamin-D deficient. We found, after controlling for relevant potential confounders (age, sex, breastfeeding status, wasting, stunting, underweight, anemia status and season), that the risk of ALRI was significantly higher among vitamin-D deficient (OR 1.26; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.55) compared to vitamin-D-replete children in the six months follow-up period. Vitamin-D status was not associated with episodes of diarrhea or clinical pneumonia.. Vitamin-D deficiency is common in young children in New Delhi and is associated with a higher risk of ALRI. The role of vitamin D in Indian children needs to be elucidated in further studies.

Topics: Child, Preschool; Diarrhea; Dietary Supplements; Female; Folic Acid; Humans; India; Infant; Luminescent Measurements; Male; Odds Ratio; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Seasons; Social Class; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency

Topics: Adult; Anemia, Pernicious; Anemia, Sickle Cell; Autoantibodies; Depression; Female; Folic Acid; Gastrins; Hemoglobin SC Disease; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Hyperhomocysteinemia; Intrinsic Factor; Iron Overload; Male; Methylmalonic Acid; Pneumonia; Transcobalamins; Transfusion Reaction; Treatment Refusal; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency; Young Adult

Topics: Adult; Anemia, Macrocytic; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Breast Feeding; Developmental Disabilities; Diet, Vegetarian; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Mother-Child Relations; Pneumonia; Syndrome; Treatment Outcome; Tremor; Vitamin B 12

A patient with recurrent pulmonary abscess, weight loss, and alcoholism was found to have extremely high serum vitamin B12 and unsaturated vitamin B12-binding capacity (UBBC) levels. While transcobalamin (TC) II was also increased, most of his UBBC was due to an abnormal binding protein which carried greater than 80% of the endogenous vitamin B12 and was not found in his saliva, granulocytes, or urine. This protein was shown to be a complex of TC II and a circulating immunoglobulin (IgGkappa and IgGlambda). Each IgG molecule appeared to bind two TC II molecules. The reacting site did not interfere with the ability of TC II to bind vitamin B12, but did interfere with its ability to transfer the vitamin to cells in vitro. The site was not identical to that reacting with anti-human TC II antibody produced in rabbits. Because of this abnormal complex, 57Co-vitamin B12 injected intravenously was cleared slowly by the patient. However, no metabolic evidence for vitamin B12 deficiency was demonstrable, although the patient initially had megaloblastic anemia apparently due to folate deficiency. The course of the vitamin B12-binding abnormalities was followed over 4 yr and appeared to fluctuate with the status of the patient's illness. The IgG-TC II complex resembled one induced in some patients with pernicious anemia by intensive treatment with long-acting vitamin B12 preparations. The mechanism of induction of the antibody formation in our patient is unknown.

Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Anemia, Megaloblastic; Antibodies; Blood Proteins; Humans; Male; Pneumonia; Transcobalamins; Vitamin B 12

Topics: Aspirin; Ergoloid Mesylates; Fever; Fructose; Humans; Iodine; Magnesium; Meperidine; Methimazole; Phenobarbital; Pneumonia; Prednisolone; Promethazine; Thyroid Crisis; Vitamin B 12

Topics: Anemia, Hypochromic; Animals; Calcium; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Copper; Deficiency Diseases; Iron; Lice Infestations; Magnesium; Magnesium Deficiency; Pneumonia; Seizures; Vitamin B 12

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bronchitis; Burns; Carrier State; Depression, Chemical; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Hematopoiesis; Humans; Mice; Niacinamide; Osteomyelitis; Pancreatitis; Penicillin Resistance; Peritonitis; Phagocytosis; Pleurisy; Pneumonia; Rabbits; Regeneration; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Stimulation, Chemical; Vitamin B 12

Topics: Anemia; Bilirubin; Blood Transfusion; Bone Marrow; Bone Marrow Cells; Erythropoiesis; Erythropoietin; Hematocrit; Humans; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute; Leukocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumonia; Reticulocytes; Vitamin B 12

Topics: Blood; Body Fluids; Corrinoids; Hematinics; Humans; Infant; Pneumonia; Serum; Urine; Vitamin B 12; Vitamins

Topics: Anemia; Anemia, Macrocytic; Anemia, Pernicious; Blood Cell Count; Blood Protein Electrophoresis; Calcium; Drug Therapy; Geriatrics; Humans; Immunoelectrophoresis; Iron; Multiple Myeloma; Osteoporosis; Plasmacytoma; Pneumonia; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

Topics: Blood; Child; Corrinoids; Hematinics; Humans; Infant; Pneumonia; Vitamin B 12