Pernicious anaemia presenting as catatonia without signs of anaemia or macrocytosis.
Pernicious anaemia can present with psychiatric symptoms before haematological or neurological manifestations appear. We describe a young woman who presented with insidious onset catatonia without evidence of psychosis or depression. Blood count and mean cell volume were normal and neurological findings were equivocal. Low B(12) levels and intrinsic factor antibodies were found only by chance when they were included in a battery of further investigations. B(12) replacement was followed by prompt improvement. This case provides an argument for wider screening for B(12) deficiency in certain individuals with psychiatric disorders.
Jauhar
Sameer
S
Department of Psychiatry, Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, UK. sameerjauhar@yahoo.co.uk
Blackett
Allison
A
Srireddy
Pavan
P
McKenna
Peter J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002389:Catatonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006879:Hydroxocobalamin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000077152:Olanzapine; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine; D006879:Hydroxocobalamin