title: Megaloblastic Anemias: Nutritional and Other Causes.
abstract: Vitamin B12and folate deficiencies are major causes of megaloblastic anemia. Causes of B12deficiency include pernicious anemia, gastric surgery, intestinal disorders, dietary deficiency, and inherited disorders of B12transport or absorption. The prevalence of folate deficiency has decreased because of folate fortification, but deficiency still occurs from malabsorption and increased demand. Other causes include drugs and inborn metabolic errors. Clinical features of megaloblastic anemia include anemia, cytopenias, jaundice, and megaloblastic marrow morphology. Neurologic symptoms occur in B12deficiency, but not in folate deficiency. Management includes identifying any deficiency, establishing its cause, and replenishing B12or folate parenterally or orally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis Medical Center, University of California Davis Health System, 4400 V. Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. Electronic address: rgreen@UCDAVIS.EDU.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis Medical Center, University of California Davis Health System, 4400 V. Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Ananya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Datta Mitra
mesh_terms: D000749:Anemia, Megaloblastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
keywords: Anemia; Folate; Homocysteine; Megaloblastic; Methylmalonic acid; Pernicious anemia; Transcobalamin; Vitamin B(12)