European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 21, Issue 2 , Pages 97-100 , April 2010

Functional vitamin B12 deficiency in alcoholics: An intriguing finding in a retrospective study of megaloblastic anemic patients

  • Alberto Fragasso

      Affiliations

    • Hematology Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM Matera, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. U.S. di Ematologia, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM Matera, Contrada Cattedra Ambulante, 75100 Matera, Italy. Tel.: +390835253032; fax: +390835253435.
    • ,
  • Clara Mannarella

      Affiliations

    • Hematology Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM Matera, Italy
    • ,
  • Angela Ciancio

      Affiliations

    • Hematology Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM Matera, Italy
    • ,
  • Andrea Sacco

      Affiliations

    • Internal Medicine Department, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM Matera, Italy

Received 30 September 2009 ,Revised 4 November 2009 ,Accepted 30 November 2009.

References 

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  4. Lindenbaum J, Savage DG, Stabler SP, Allen RH. Diagnosis of cobalamin deficiency. II. Relative sensitivies of serum cobalamin, methylmalonic acid, and total homocysteine concentrations. Am J Hematol. 1990;34:99–107
  5. Savage DG, Lindenbaum J, Stabler SP, Allen RH. Sensitivy of serum methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine determinations for diagnosing cobalamin and folate deficiencies. Am J Med. 1994;96:239–246
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  15. Devalia V. Diagnosing vitamin B-12 deficiency on the basis of serum B-12 assay. BMJ. 2006;333:385–386
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  17. Lambert D, Benhayoun S, Adjalla C, et al. Alcoholic cirrhosis and cobalamin metabolism.. Digestion. 1997;58:64–71
  18. Himmerich H, Anghelescu I, Klawe C, Szegedi A. Vitamin B12 and hepatic enzyme serum levels correlate in male alcohol-dependent patients. Alcohol Alcohol. 2001;36:26–28
  19. Solomon LR. Oxidant stress as a cause of clinically significant “functional” cobalamin deficiency. Blood. 2008;ASH Annual Meeting Abstract 2877
  20. Hagelskjaer L, Rasmussen K. Methylmalonic acid concentration in serum not affected in hepatic disease. Clin Chem. 1992;38:493–495
  21. Healton EB, Savage DG, Brust JCM, Garrett TJ, Lindenbaum J. Neurologic aspects of cobalamin deficiency. Medicine. 1991;70:229–245

PII: S0953-6205(09)00243-X

doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2009.11.012

European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 21, Issue 2 , Pages 97-100 , April 2010

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