clinical features of vitamin B12 deficiency
Last edited 05/2022 and last reviewed 09/2022
- Blood
- macrocytic anaemia - anaemia, jaundice
- neutropenia - infection
- thrombocytopenia - bleeding
- Skin
- angular cheilosis - sore mouth
- glossitis - beefy red tongue
- pigmentation, alopecia
- Gut
- epithelial abnormalities - anorexia, weight loss
- stomach + small bowel - altered bowel habit, malabsorption
- GUS
- epithelial abnormalities - infertility
- CNS
- mental abnormalities - dementia
- peripheral neuropathy, subacute combined degeneration of the cord - paraesthesia, numbness, difficulty in walking, weakness
- Eyes
- retrobulbar neuritis - poor vision
- optic atrophy - blindness
- Other – splenomegaly, fever
Reference:
- (1) Rodriguez NM, Shackelford K. Pernicious Anemia. [Updated 2021 Jul 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK540989/ (accessed 13/05/2022).
- (2) NHS. Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b12-or-folate-deficiency-anaemia/ (accessed 13/05/2022).
- (3) Langan RC, Goodbred AJ. Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Recognition and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Sep 15;96(6):384-389. PMID: 28925645.