Clinical presentation and metabolic consequences in 40 breastfed infants with nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency--what have we learned?
BACKGROUND
Maternal vitamin B(12) (Cbl) deficiency causes nutritional Cbl deficiency in breastfed infants.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse clinical presentation and metabolic consequences in 40 breastfed infants with Cbl deficiency.


METHODS
Cbl levels in serum and breast milk were determined by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, methylmalonic acid level by GC/MS, plasma homocysteine by HPLC and propionylcarnitine by MS/MS. Profound Cbl deficiency was found in 17 children (69 ± 17 ng/l, controls 200-900), and milder Cbl deficiency in 23 children (167 ± 40 ng/l). Maternal Cbl deficiency was mostly caused by insufficient Cbl absorption. Only six mothers were vegetarian.


RESULTS
The average age at diagnosis was 4.4 ± 2.5 months. Clinical symptoms included failure to thrive (48% of children), hypotonia (40%), developmental delay (38%) and microcephaly (23%). 63% of children had anaemia (megaloblastic in 28% of all children). All but one patient had methylmalonic aciduria, 80% of patients had hyperhomocysteinemia and 87% had increased aminotransferases. Propionylcarnitine was elevated in two out of 25 infants. Comparing groups with severe and mild Cbl deficiency, a marked difference was found in severity of clinical and laboratory changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal Cbl status and diagnostic delay are the major factors influencing severity and progression of Cbl deficiency in breastfed infants. In our cohort, propionylcarnitine was not sufficiently sensitive marker of Cbl deficiency. Although symptoms are reversible on Cbl substitution, permanent neurological damage can result. Selective screening for Cbl deficiency is indicated in all breastfed infants with failure to thrive, hypotonia, developmental delay, microcephaly or megaloblastic anaemia. The best prevention in future could be the screening of all pregnant women.
Honzik
Tomas
T
Department of Paediatrics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. honzikt@seznam.cz
Adamovicova
Miriam
M
Smolka
Vratislav
V
Magner
Martin
M
Hruba
Eva
E
Zeman
Jiri
J
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*
D014805:Vitamin B 12