Neurol. praxi. 2013;14(6):287-291

Neurological disorders in vitamin B12 deficiency

MUDr.Ivan Martinka

Neurologická klinika SZU a UNB, Univerzitná nemocnica Bratislava &ndash, Ružinov

Vitamin B12 plays an important role in organism as cofactor of important enzymes of intermediary metabolism. Lack of vitamin B12 is caused

by malabsorption in the gastrointestinal tract, insufficient nourishment by food or genetic deficiency of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase enzyme.

Vitamin B12 deficiency usually presents with various haematological, neurological and psychiatric manifestations. Neurological manifestations

include myelopathy, neuropathy and, rarely, optic nerve atrophy. Myelopathy in vitamin B12 deficiency presents as subacute combined

degeneration of spinal cord (funicular myelosis), characterised by degeneration of the lateral and posterior columns. Neuropathy usually

presents as polyneuropathy with predominantly sensory symptoms, sometimes are combined also with motor symptoms. Optic atrophy

is rare condition, chracterized by slow progressive worsening of vizus. The aim of our work is to highlight the iss ue of neurological diseases

caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, identified the need to include these diseases in the differential diagnostic considerations.

of vitamin B12.

Keywords: vitamin B12 deficiency, subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord, polyneuropathy, long-term parenteral or oral substitution

Published: December 1, 2013  Show citation