title: [Atrophic glossitis is attributed to cobalamin deficiency].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the causes of atrophic glossitis(AG) and to explore the relationship between AG and serum cobalamin, folate levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 213 patients with AG treated from Jan.1979 to Jun. 2010 were analyzed for the causes of AG. Serum cobalamin, folate levels and complete blood count were tested in newly enrolled AG patients from Sep. 2010 to Aug. 2011. All data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 software package for Student's t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 97 AG patients (45.4%) suffering from megaloblastic anemia (MA)/ macrocytosis. Among the 72 newly enrolled AG patients, fifty had cobalamin deficiency. Meanwhile, serum folate levels were increased in cobalamin deficiency group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cobalamin deficiency is the common cause both of MA/macrocytosis and AG, also may be the main cause of AG. Furthermore, AG may be the early clinical manifestation of cobalamin deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Mucosal Disease, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China. zhujingci126@yahoo.cn
authors.forename: Jing-ci
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yu-feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Fu-xiang
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guo-yao
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000749:Anemia, Megaloblastic; D005492:Folic Acid; D005928:Glossitis; D006801:Humans; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12