Febrile pancytopenia and psychosis revealing pernicious anemia.
The rare case of a 42-year-old woman of African origin presenting with persecution mania leading to admission to a psychiatric hospital is reported. The outcome was rapidly marked by febrile pancytopenia and ataxia leading to the diagnosis of pernicious anemia. Although the hematologic abnormalities and mania were corrected within 2 weeks under vitamin therapy, neural improvement was slower as observed classically. The literature regarding pancytopenia and psychiatric presentations is briefly reviewed, suggesting that vitamin B(12) deficiency may induce paranoid delusion.
Alliot
C
C
Hematology Division, General Hospital, Annemasse, France. chiab@sante.hautesavoie.net
Durigon
F
F
Barrios
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000209:etiology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*