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Low serum cobalamin levels in primary degenerative dementia. Do some patients harbor atypical cobalamin deficiency states?
Arch Intern Med. 1987 Mar; 147(3):429-31.AI

Abstract

Serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) levels were analyzed retrospectively in 17 patients with primary degenerative dementia and 11 with specific demonstrable causes of dementia (secondary dementia). The prevalence of low cobalamin levels was significantly increased in primary dementia (29% vs 0% in secondary dementia). Because typical findings of deficiency often seemed absent, we prospectively studied two other patients with primary dementia and low cobalamin levels. Neither of these two had megaloblastic anemia; one had a normal Schilling test while the other's was borderline. Despite this absence of the expected findings, the deoxyuridine suppression test gave biochemical evidence of cobalamin deficiency in both cases. Our survey of 28 patients thus established that low serum cobalamin levels are frequent in primary dementia. Our findings in the two prospectively studied cases (as well as in some of the patients in the survey) indicate that these levels are associated in at least some cases with an atypical deficiency state rather than with disorders such as pernicious anemia. Such atypical deficiency states cannot be identified by classic hematological criteria or by the Schilling test.

Authors

Karnaze DS
No affiliation info available
Carmel R
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AgedAlzheimer DiseaseDementiaDeoxyuridineErythrocyte IndicesFemaleHemoglobinsHumansMaleProspective StudiesVitamin B 12Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Language

eng

PubMed ID

3827417

Citation

Karnaze, D S., and R Carmel. "Low Serum Cobalamin Levels in Primary Degenerative Dementia. Do some Patients Harbor Atypical Cobalamin Deficiency States?" Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 147, no. 3, 1987, pp. 429-31.
Karnaze DS, Carmel R. Low serum cobalamin levels in primary degenerative dementia. Do some patients harbor atypical cobalamin deficiency states? Arch Intern Med. 1987;147(3):429-31.
Karnaze, D. S., & Carmel, R. (1987). Low serum cobalamin levels in primary degenerative dementia. Do some patients harbor atypical cobalamin deficiency states? Archives of Internal Medicine, 147(3), 429-31.
Karnaze DS, Carmel R. Low Serum Cobalamin Levels in Primary Degenerative Dementia. Do some Patients Harbor Atypical Cobalamin Deficiency States. Arch Intern Med. 1987;147(3):429-31. PubMed PMID: 3827417.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Low serum cobalamin levels in primary degenerative dementia. Do some patients harbor atypical cobalamin deficiency states? AU - Karnaze,D S, AU - Carmel,R, PY - 1987/3/1/pubmed PY - 1987/3/1/medline PY - 1987/3/1/entrez SP - 429 EP - 31 JF - Archives of internal medicine JO - Arch Intern Med VL - 147 IS - 3 N2 - Serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) levels were analyzed retrospectively in 17 patients with primary degenerative dementia and 11 with specific demonstrable causes of dementia (secondary dementia). The prevalence of low cobalamin levels was significantly increased in primary dementia (29% vs 0% in secondary dementia). Because typical findings of deficiency often seemed absent, we prospectively studied two other patients with primary dementia and low cobalamin levels. Neither of these two had megaloblastic anemia; one had a normal Schilling test while the other's was borderline. Despite this absence of the expected findings, the deoxyuridine suppression test gave biochemical evidence of cobalamin deficiency in both cases. Our survey of 28 patients thus established that low serum cobalamin levels are frequent in primary dementia. Our findings in the two prospectively studied cases (as well as in some of the patients in the survey) indicate that these levels are associated in at least some cases with an atypical deficiency state rather than with disorders such as pernicious anemia. Such atypical deficiency states cannot be identified by classic hematological criteria or by the Schilling test. SN - 0003-9926 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/3827417/Low_serum_cobalamin_levels_in_primary_degenerative_dementia__Do_some_patients_harbor_atypical_cobalamin_deficiency_states DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -