title: Cerebral atrophy in a vitamin B12-deficient infant of a vegetarian mother.
abstract: In developed countries, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency usually occurs in children, exclusively breastfed ones whose mothers are vegetarian, causing low body stores of vitamin B12. The haematologic manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency is pernicious anaemia. It is a megaloblastic anaemia with high mean corpuscular volume and typical morphological features, such as hyperlobulation of the nuclei of the granulocytes. In advanced cases, neutropaenia and thrombocytopaenia can occur, simulating aplastic anaemia or leukaemia. In addition to haematological symptoms, infants may experience weakness, fatigue, failure to thrive, and irritability. Other common findings include pallor, glossitis, vomiting, diarrhoea, and icterus. Neurological symptoms may affect the central nervous system and, in severe cases, rarely cause brain atrophy. Here, we report an interesting case, a 12-month old infant, who was admitted with neurological symptoms and diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency.
authors: Celebi
authors: C
authors: Kocaoglu
authors: Fatih
authors: F
authors: Akin
authors: Hüseyin
authors: H
authors: Caksen
authors: Saltuk Buğra
authors: SB
authors: Böke
authors: Sükrü
authors: S
authors: Arslan
authors: Serhat
authors: S
authors: Aygün
mesh_terms: D000748:Anemia, Macrocytic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001284:Atrophy; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014805:Vitamin B 12