Nitrous Oxide Abuse and Vitamin B12 Action in a 20-Year-Old Woman: A Case Report.
Herein, we report a case of a 20-year-old (ethnicity not reported) woman with a history of nitrous oxide abuse and clinical symptoms consistent with spinal cord subacute combined degeneration with associated low serum concentrations of vitamin B12, elevated methylmalonic acid levels, and radiologic evidence of demyelination of the dorsal region of the spinal column. The health of the patient improved dramatically with B12 supplementation. In this case, we discuss the interaction of nitrous oxide with the enzymatic pathways involved in the biochemistry of vitamin B12.
Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.
Miriam Andrea
MA
Duque
Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.
Jesse L
JL
Kresak
Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.
Adam
A
Falchook
Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida harris@pathology.ufl.edu.
Neil S
NS
Harris
D000328:Adult; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010292:Paresthesia; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D014805:Vitamin B 12
homocysteine; methionine; methylmalonic acid; nitrous oxide; subacute combined degeneration; vitamin B12