title: Folate and Vitamin B(12) deficiency presenting as pancytopenia in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: We present a case of extreme pancytopenia in a 27-year-old pregnant woman. The initial picture was compatible with a severe hematological problem in the category of aplastic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria or even acute leukemia. The further biochemical investigations revealed, however, a folate deficiency. Nowadays this is a very rare cause of pancytopenia. Next to this she also had a Vitamin B(12) deficiency due to intrinsic factor failure. The recent literature is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Haematology, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium. ann.vann.de.velde@uza.uia.ac.be
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van de Velde
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Droogenbroeck
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tjalma
authors.forename: Ph G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Jorens
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schroyens
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Berneman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000749:Anemia, Megaloblastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007437:Intrinsic Factor / Q000172:deficiency; D008297:Male; D010198:Pancytopenia; D017713:Platelet Transfusion; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D007437:Intrinsic Factor; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12