title: Brain atrophy caused by vitamin B12-deficient anemia in an infant.
abstract: Vitamin B12 deficiency in infants often presents with nonspecific hematological, gastrointestinal, and neurological manifestations. It is usually caused by inadequate intake, abnormal absorption, or congenital disorders of vitamin B12 metabolism, including transport disorders. We describe a vitamin B12-deficient infant with severe anemia who was breastfed. His mother had undiagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency having undergone total gastrectomy 18 years earlier. The infant developed normally after taking vitamin B12. It is important to suspect vitamin B12 deficiency in mothers who have undergone gastrectomy. Early diagnosis and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants is important and will help improve long-term prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. mkamei@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Michi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Tomonari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Awaya
authors.forename: Takaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Motoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohuchi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazaki
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Togari
mesh_terms: D000749:Anemia, Megaloblastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014805:Vitamin B 12