Vitamin B-12 Associated Neurological Diseases

Background

The association of anemia and gastrointestinal and neurologic abnormalities referable to the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves has been recognized in several clinical and postmortem case reports and series by Combe, Addison, and Fenwick since the early 19th century. In 1877, Gardner and Osler coined the term pernicious anemia (PA) to describe a patient with progressive arm numbness and difficulty with buttoning and using tools.^[1] Liechtenstein in 1884 reported the association of PA and spinal cord disease but attributed both to tabes dorsalis.^[2] Lichtheim in 1887^[3] and Minnich in 1892^[4] recognized the histologic differences in the spinal cord between PA and tabes dorsalis.

In 1900, Russell et al coined the term subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.^[5] In 1926, Minot and Murphy fed PA patients a half-pound of calf liver daily, for which they received the Nobel Prize.^[6] In 1929, Castle distinguished the role of gastric (intrinsic) and dietary (extrinsic) factors in PA.^[7] In 1948, cyanocobalamin was isolated from the liver. The existence of vitamin B-12 deficiency neuropathy was recognized in 1958. In 1955, Lassen et al^[8] noted megaloblastic anemia secondary to prolonged nitrous oxide (N₂ O) exposure; the neurologic features were described in 1978 by Sahenk et al^[9] and Layzer et al.^[10]

See the image below.

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Vitamin B-12–associated neurological diseases. Pernicious anemia. Characteristic lemon-yellow pallor with raw beef tongue lacking filiform papillae. P....

See 21 Hidden Clues to Diagnosing Nutritional Deficiencies, a Critical Images slideshow, to help identify clues to conditions associated with malnutrition.

• References

Pathophysiology

Vitamin B-12 structure

Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) is a complex molecule in which a cobalt atom is contained in a corrin ring. Vitamin B-12 is available in animal protein.

Body stores

Total body stores are 2-5 mg, of which half is stored in the liver. The recommended daily intake is 2 mcg/d in adults; pregnant and lactating women require 2.6 mcg/d. Children require 0.7 mcg/d and, in adolescence, 2 mcg/d. Because vitamin B-12 is highly conserved through the enterohepatic circulation, cobalamin deficiency from malabsorption develops after 2-5 years and deficiency from dietary inadequacy in vegetarians develops after 10-20 years. Its causes are mainly nutritional and malabsorptive, PA being most common.

Physiology of absorption

After ingestion, the low stomach pH cleaves cobalamin from other dietary protein.^[11] The free cobalamin binds to gastric R binder, a glycoprotein in saliva, and the complex travels to the duodenum and jejunum, where pancreatic peptidases digest the complex and release cobalamin. Free cobalamin can then bind with gastric intrinsic factor (IF), a 50-kd glycoprotein produced by the gastric parietal cells, the secretion of which parallels that of hydrochloric acid. Hence, in states of achlorhydria, IF secretion is reduced, leading to cobalamin deficiency. Importantly, only 99% of ingested cobalamin requires IF for absorption. Up to 1% of free cobalamin is absorbed passively in the terminal ileum. This why oral replacement with large vitamin B-12 doses is appropriate for PA.

Once bound with IF, vitamin B-12 is resistant to further digestion. The complex travels to the distal ileum and binds to a specific mucosal brush border receptor, cublin, which facilitates the internalization of cobalamin-IF complex in an energy-dependent process. Once internalized, IF is removed and cobalamin is transferred to other transport proteins, transcobalamin I, II, and III (TCI, TCII, TCIII). Eighty percent of cobalamin is bound to TCI/III, whose role in cobalamin metabolism is unknown. The other 20% binds with TCII, the physiologic transport protein produced by endothelial cells. Its half-life is 6-9 min, thus delivery to target tissues is rapid.

The cobalamin-TCII complex is secreted into the portal blood where it is taken up mainly in the liver and bone marrow as well as other tissues. Once in the cytoplasm, cobalamin is liberated from the complex by lysosomal degradation. An enzyme-mediated reduction of the cobalt occurs by cytoplasmic methylation to form methylcobalamin or by mitochondrial adenosylation to form adenosylcobalamin, the 2 metabolically active forms of cobalamin.

Vitamin B-12 role in bone marrow function

In the cytoplasm, methylcobalamin (see image below) serves as cofactor for methionine synthesis by allowing transfer of a methyl group from 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (5-methyl-THF) to homocysteine (HC), forming methionine and demethylated tetrahydrofolate (THF). This results in reduction in serum homocysteine, which appears to be toxic to endothelial cells. Methionine is further metabolized to S-adenosylmethionine (SAM).

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Vitamin B-12–associated neurological diseases. Cobalamin and folate metabolism. TS = thymidylate synthase, DHFR = dihydrofolate reductase, SHMT = seri....

THF is used for DNA synthesis. After conversion to its polyglutamate form, THF participates in purine synthesis and the conversion of deoxyuridylate (dUTP) to deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP), which is then phosphorylated to deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP). dTTP is required for DNA synthesis; therefore, in vitamin B-12 deficiency, formation of dTTP and accumulation of 5-methyl-THF is inadequate, trapping folate in its unusable form and leading to retarded DNA synthesis. RNA contains dUTP (deoxyuracil triphosphate) instead of dTTP, allowing for protein synthesis to proceed uninterrupted and resulting in macrocytosis and cytonuclear dissociation.

Because folate deficiency causes macrocytosis and cytonuclear dissociation via the same mechanisms, both deficiencies lead to megaloblastic anemia and disordered maturation in granulocytic lineages; therefore, folate supplementation can reverse the hematologic abnormalities of vitamin B-12 deficiency but has no impact on the neurologic abnormalities of vitamin B-12 deficiency, indicating both result from different mechanisms.

Vitamin B-12 role in the peripheral and central nervous systems

The neurologic manifestation of cobalamin deficiency is less well understood. CNS demyelination may play a role, but how cobalamin deficiency leads to demyelination remains unclear. Reduced SAM or elevated methylmalonic acid (MMA) may be involved.

SAM is required as the methyl donor in polyamine synthesis and transmethylation reactions. Methylation reactions are needed for myelin maintenance and synthesis. SAM deficiency results in abnormal methylated phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine, and it is linked to central myelin defects and abnormal neuronal conduction, which may account for the encephalopathy and myelopathy. In addition, SAM influences serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine synthesis. This suggests that, in addition to structural consequences of vitamin B-12 deficiency, functional effects on neurotransmitter synthesis that may be relevant to mental status changes may occur. Parenthetically, SAM is being studied as a potential antidepressant.

Another possible cause of neurologic manifestations involves the other metabolically active form of cobalamin, adenosylcobalamin (see image below), a mitochondrial cofactor in the conversion of L-methylmalonyl CoA to succinyl CoA. Vitamin B-12 deficiency leads to an increase in L-methylmalonyl-CoA, which is converted to D-methylmalonyl CoA and hydrolyzed to MMA. Elevated MMA results in abnormal odd chain and branched chain fatty acids with subsequent abnormal myelination, possibly leading to defective nerve transmission.

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Vitamin B-12–associated neurological diseases. Cobalamin deficiency leads to reduced adenosylcobalamin, which is required for production of succinyl-C....

More recent studies propose a very different paradigm: B-12 and its deficiency impact a network of cytokines and growth factors, ie, brain, spinal cord, and CSF TNF-alpha; nerve growth factor (NGF), IL-6 and epidermal growth factor (EGF), some of which are neurotrophic, others neurotoxic. Vitamin B-12 regulates IL-6 levels in rodent CSF. In rodent models of B-12 deficiency parenteral EGF or anti-NGF antibody injection prevents, like B-12 itself, the SCD-like lesions.

In the same models, the mRNAs of several cell-type specific proteins (glial fibrillary acidic protein, myelin basic protein) are decreased in a region specific manner in the CNS, but, in the PNS myelin, protein zero and peripheral myelin protein 22 mRNA remain unaltered.

In human and rodent serum and CSF, concomitantly with a vitamin B-12 decrease, EGF levels are decreased, while at the same time, TNF-alpha increases in step with homocysteine levels. These observations provide evidence that the clinical and histological changes of vitamin B-12 deficiency may result from up-regulation of neurotoxic cytokines and down-regulation of neurotrophic factors.^[12]

N

N₂ O can oxidize the cobalt core of vitamin B-12 from a 1⁺ to 3⁺ valance state, rendering methylcobalamin inactive, inhibiting HC conversion to methionine and depleting the supply of SAM. Patients with sufficient vitamin B-12 body stores can maintain cellular functions after N₂ O exposure, but in patients with borderline or low vitamin B-12 stores, this oxidation may be sufficient to precipitate clinical manifestations.

• References

Epidemiology

Frequency

The prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency is difficult to ascertain because of diverse etiologies and different assays (i.e., radioassay or chemiluminescence). Affected individuals may number 300,000 to 3 million in the United States.

Using the radioassay and a value less than 200 pg/mL, the prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency is 3-16%. In a geriatric population using a radioassay cutoff of 300 pg/mL and elevated HC and MMA levels, a prevalence of 21% was reported.

Of HIV-seropositive individuals, 11% are vitamin B-12 deficient; another 12% have levels of 200-240 pg/mL. In a subgroup with chronic diarrhea, the rate reaches 39%. However, the importance for vitamin B-12 deficiency in the development of neurologic disease in these patients remains unclear.

In Europe, the prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency is 1.6-10%.

In India, a hospital population radioassay study with a cutoff of 200 pg/mL found a vitamin B-12 deficiency in 0.88% of patients, with borderline values in 3.8%.

Mortality/Morbidity

See the list below:

• Vitamin B-12 deficiency is associated with an elevated HC.
• The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in the general population is 5-10%; in people older than 65 years it may reach 30-40%. Elevated HC is a risk factor for coronary artery, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular diseases and venous thrombosis. About 10% of the vascular disease risk in the general population is linked to HC.
• Case-control studies have reported a correlation between multi-infarct dementia or dementia of the Alzheimer type and elevated HC; vitamin B-12 supplementation had no clinical benefit.
• Neural tube defects are associated with low folate and vitamin B-12.
• PA patients have a 3 times and 13 times increased risk of gastric carcinoma and gastric carcinoid tumors, respectively.
• Patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and autoimmune thyroid diseases are at higher risk of developing PA. A 2009 study noted a 22% prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.^[13]
• Multifactorial abnormalities of vitamin B-12 metabolism and absorption occur in HIV infection.

Race

See the list below:

• PA prevalence may be higher in white people and lower in Hispanic and black people.
• No known relationship exists between neurologic symptoms and race.
• Studies in Africa and the United States have shown higher vitamin B-12 and transcobalamin II levels in black than in white individuals. Additionally, blacks have lower HC levels and metabolize it more efficiently than whites.

Sex

See the list below:

• In Europe and Africa, the prevalence of PA is higher in elderly women than men (1.5:1), while in the United States no differences exist.
• Men have higher HC levels at all ages.
• Pregnancy and estrogen replacement in postmenopausal women lower HC levels.

Age

See the list below:

• PA occurs in people of all ages, but it is more common in people older than 40-70 years and, in particular, in people older than 65 years.
• In white people, the mean age of onset is 60; in black people, the mean age is 50 years.
• Congenital PA manifests in children aged 9 months to 10 years; the mean age is 2 years.

• References

History

Clinical course

The neurologic features are attributable to pathology in the peripheral and optic nerves, posterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord (subacute combined degeneration), and in the brain. Interestingly, hematologic and neurologic manifestations are occasionally dissociated.^{[14, 15]} An inverse correlation in the severity of both manifestations has been suggested. In patients with neuropsychiatric abnormalities, 28% lack anemia or macrocytosis.

Clinical manifestations due to vitamin B-12 deficiency are unrelated to etiology. In a prospective comparative study between antiparietal cell antibody positive and negative patients, no significant difference was shown in clinical, electrodiagnostic, and radiological features.^[16]

Although the clinical features of vitamin B-12 deficiency may consist of a classic triad of weakness, sore tongue, and paresthesias, these are not usually the chief symptoms.

Onset is subacute or gradual, although more acute courses have been described, in particular after N ₂ O exposure. In 1986, Schilling described 2 patients with unrecognized vitamin B-12 deficiency who developed paresthesias and poor manual dexterity 1-3 months after brief N ₂ O exposure.^[17] In 1995, Kinsella and Green described a 70-year-old man with paresthesias and hand clumsiness after 2 exposures to N ₂ O over 3 months.^[18]

Onset is often with a sensation of cold, numbness, or tightness in the tips of the toes and then in the fingertips, rarely with lancinating pains. Simultaneous involvement of arms and legs is uncommon, and onset in the arms is even rarer.

Paresthesias are ascending and occasionally involve the trunk, leading to a sensation of constriction in the abdomen and chest.

Untreated patients may develop limb weakness and ataxia.

In 1991, Healton et al performed detailed neurologic evaluations of 143 patients with vitamin B-12 deficiency; 74% presented with neurologic symptoms.^[19]

• Isolated numbness or paresthesias were present in 33%.
• Gait abnormalities occurred in 12%.
• Psychiatric or cognitive symptoms were noted in 3%.
• Visual symptoms were reported in 0.5%. Symptoms include subacute progressive decrease in visual acuity, usually caused by bilateral optic neuropathy and rarely pseudotumor cerebri or optic neuritis.
• Rare autonomic features include orthostasis, sexual dysfunction, and bowel and bladder incontinence.
• Other symptoms include lightheadedness and impaired taste and smell.
• Asymptomatic neurologic manifestations can be detected using somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP); see below.
• Nonneurologic symptoms, some of which may also reflect autonomic nervous system involvement, were present in 26%.

  • Constitutional symptoms, including anorexia and weight loss occurred in 50%. Low-grade fever that resolves with treatment occurred in 33% of cases. Other symptoms include fatigue and malaise.
  • Cardiovascular symptoms include syncope, dyspnea, orthopnea, palpitations, and angina.
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms include heartburn, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, sore tongue, and early satiety.

   

  

   

In a prospective study of 57 patients with vitamin B-12 deficiency neurological syndrome, common presenting syndromes included myeloneuropathy (25), myelopathy (14), myeloneuroencephalopathy (13), myeloencephalopathy (4), and behavioral (1).^[126]

• References

Physical

Most patients exhibit signs of peripheral nervous system (PNS) or spinal cord involvement, but the extent of PNS involvement remains unclear, in part because both neuropathy and myelopathy can cause impaired vibration sense, ataxia, and paresthesias. Either can be affected first in the early stages. Objective sensory abnormalities usually result from posterior column involvement and less often from PNS disease.

In 1919, Woltmann found features of PNS disease in 4.9% of patients with PA, including distal hyporeflexia or areflexia; 80% of these also had evidence of cord involvement.^[20]

In 1991, Healton summarized his experience with a large group of patients as follows:^[19]

• Isolated neuropathy was reported in 25% of patients.
• Myelopathy occurred in 12% of cases.
• A combination of neuropathy and myelopathy was noted in 41%.
• Neuropsychiatric manifestations, such as recent memory loss with reduced attention span and otherwise normal cognition, depression, hypomania, paranoid psychosis with auditory or visual hallucinations (megaloblastic madness), violent behavior, personality changes, blunted affect, and emotional liability, were reported in 8% of patients.
• Ocular findings included a cecocentral scotoma and occurred in 0.5% of cases. Others have described optic atrophy, nystagmus, small reactive pupils, and chiasmatic lesion causing bitemporal hemianopia.
• Normal findings were noted on neurologic examination in 14% of patients despite paresthetic symptoms.

Early in the course, poor joint position and vibration sense predominate. Typically, the legs are affected before the arms. Rarely are all limbs affected simultaneously. A Romberg sign is commonly found. The gait may be wide based.

On presentation, 50% of patients have absent ankle reflexes with relative hyperreflexia at the knees. Plantars are initially flexor and later extensor. A Hoffman sign may be found.

As the disease progresses, ascending loss of pinprick, light touch, and temperature sensation occurs. Later, depending on the predominance of posterior column versus cortical spinal tract involvement, ataxia or spastic paraplegia predominates. Then, PNS involvement causes distal limb atrophy.

Cognitive testing may reveal mild impairment or frank dementia.

Nonneurologic manifestations include the following:

• General - Lemon-yellow waxy pallor, premature whitening of hair, flabby bulky frame, mild icterus, and blotchy skin pigmentation in dark-skinned patients
• Cardiovascular - Tachycardia, congestive heart failure
• Gastrointestinal - Beefy, red, smooth, and sore tongue with loss of papillae that is more pronounced along edges

Abnormal vitamin B-12 metabolism occurs in infants born to vitamin B-12–deficient mothers or those with hereditary diseases, including the Imerslünd-Grasbeck syndrome (cublin mutation resulting in decreased cobalamin transport from the intestinal lumen), transcobalamin II deficiency, and intracellular cobalamin abnormalities (classified as Cbl A though G with neurologic features in Cbl C and Cbl D, see below). Symptoms become prominent after exhaustion of vitamin B-12 stores acquired in utero. Infants present with developmental delay, failure to thrive, lethargy, poor feeding, mental retardation, seizures, listlessness, irritability, ataxia, hyporeflexia, hypotonia, pathologic reflexes, coma, tremor, and myoclonus. The latter may worsen transiently upon initiation of treatment.

• References

Causes

Inadequate vitamin B-12 absorption is the major pathomechanism and may result from several factors.

• Intrinsic factor deficiency

  • PA accounts for 75% of cases of vitamin B-12 deficiency. It is an autoimmune attack on gastric IF. Antibodies are present in 70% of patients. They may block the formation of the cobalamin-IF complex or block its binding with cublin. Other antibodies are directed at parietal cell hydrogen-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase).
  • Juvenile PA results from inability to secrete IF. Secretion of hydrogen ions and the gastric mucosa are normal. Transmittance is autosomal recessive inheritance of abnormal GIF on chromosome arm 11q13.
  • Destruction of gastric mucosa can occur from gastrectomy or Helicobacter pylori infection. A Turkish study found endoscopic evidence of H pylori infection in more than 50% of vitamin B-12–deficient patients. Antibiotics alone eradicated H pylori in 31 patients, with resolution of vitamin B-12 deficiency.

   

  

   
• Deficient vitamin B-12 intake: Intake may be inadequate because of strict vegetarianism (rare), breastfeeding of infants by vegan mothers, alcoholism, or following dietary fads.
• Disorders of terminal ileum: Tropical sprue, celiac disease, enteritis, exudative enteropathy, intestinal resection, Whipple disease, ileal tuberculosis, and cublin gene mutation on chromosome arm 10p12.1 in the region designated MGA 1, which affects binding of the cobalamin-IF complex to intestinal mucosa (Imerslünd-Grasbeck syndrome), are disorders that affect the terminal ileum.
• Competition for cobalamin: Competition for cobalamin may occur in blind loop syndrome or with fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum).
• Abnormalities related to protein digestion related to achlorhydria: Abnormalities include atrophic gastritis, pancreatic deficiency, proton pump inhibitor use, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, in which the acidic pH of the distal small intestine does not allow the cobalamin-IF complex to bind with cublin.
• Medications: Medications include colchicine, neomycin, and p -aminosalicylic acid.
• Transport protein abnormality: Abnormalities include transcobalamin II deficiency (autosomal recessive inheritance of an abnormal TCN2 gene on chromosome arm 22q11.2-qter resulting in failure to absorb and transport cobalamin) and deficiency of R-binder cobalamin enzyme.
• Disorders of intracellular cobalamin metabolism: These disorders result in methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria in infants.

  • Isolated methylmalonic aciduria
    • Cbl A is due to deficiency of mitochondrial cobalamin reductase resulting in deficiency of adenosylcobalamin.
    • Cbl B is due to deficiency of adenosylcobalamin transferase resulting in deficiency of adenosylcobalamin.
  • Methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria
    • Cbl C is a combined deficiency of methylmalonyl CoA mutase and homocysteine:methyltetrahydrofolate methyltransferase. Patients have prominent neurologic features and megaloblastic anemia.
    • Cbl D is a deficiency of cobalamin reductase. Patients have prominent neurologic features.
    • Cbl F is a defect in lysosomal release of cobalamin.
  • Isolated homocystinuria
    • Cbl E is due to a defect in methionine synthase reductase located on chromosome arm 5p15.3-p15.2.
    • Cbl G is due to a defect in methyltetrahydrofolate homocysteine methyltransferase located on chromosome arm 1q43.

   

  

   
• Increased vitamin B-12 requirement: Requirement is increased in hyperthyroidism and alpha thalassemia.
• Other causes

  • In AIDS, vitamin B-12 deficiency is not infrequent. Although the exact etiology remains obscure, it is likely a multimodal process involving poor nutrition, chronic diarrhea, ileal dysfunction, and exudative enteropathy. Low vitamin B-12 levels may be more common in late than in early HIV disease.
  • N ₂ O exposure can occur iatrogenically (ie, anesthesia) or through abuse ("whippets").

   

  

   

• References

Laboratory Studies

See the list below:

• Clinical evidence of vitamin B-12 deficiency

  • Serum cobalamin levels are the initial test.
  • Two assays exist: radioassay and the nonradioisotopic assay, chemiluminescence, which is becoming more popular because of improved automation, safety, and cost. Chemiluminescence has a higher reference range value, from 250-1100 pg/mL versus 170-900 pg/mL for radioassay. Using the radioassay and elevated homocysteine (HC) and methylmalonic acid (MMA) as criterion standards, levels are less than 200 pg/mL in 90-95% of patients, 200-300 pg/mL in 5-10%, and greater than 300 pg/mL in 0.1-1%. Be aware of the assay used and how the reference range was determined. A serum cobalamin level that is within the reference range does not exclude cobalamin deficiency.

   

  

   
• Abnormally low vitamin B-12 levels: Test for PA by measuring antibodies against IF.

  • Antiparietal cell antibodies are present in 90% of PA cases. In patients older than 70 years, 10% have false-positive abnormal antibody levels.
  • IF antibodies are present in 60% of patients. These are more specific but less sensitive.
  • If either antibody is positive, the diagnosis of PA is confirmed and further testing is not required.
  • If antibodies are negative, obtain a serum gastrin level to test for achlorhydria, which is associated with PA. If these are elevated, the diagnosis is likely PA. If these results are normal, perform a Schilling test.

   

  

   
• Borderline vitamin B-12 level and clinical features of vitamin B-12 deficiency: Measure methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine (HC).

  • Both folate and vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to metabolite elevation.
  • In vitamin B-12 deficiency, MMA and HC are elevated, although HC elevation occurs by itself. MMA is more sensitive than HC.
  • In folate deficiency, MMA is within the reference range and HC is elevated.
  • MMA and HC are considered abnormal when greater than 3 standard deviations above the mean. Reference range values are not age dependent for MMA and are 70-350 nM/L. For patients younger than 60 years, reference range values are 5-15 µM/L for HC. In people older than 60 years, the cutoff for HC is 20 µM/L.
  • If both metabolites are within the reference range, vitamin B-12 deficiency is effectively ruled out. Only 0.2% of 400 patients with low serum vitamin B-12 had normal metabolite levels, and 10% of 98 patients with folate deficiency had metabolite levels within the reference range. False-positive elevations in MMA and HC occur in inborn errors of metabolism, renal disease, and deficiencies of folate. If either metabolite is elevated, test for PA or use the Schilling test.

   

  

   
• Schilling test: The Schilling test is used to determine the etiology of vitamin B-12 deficiency in patients with normal IF antibodies.

  • Stage 1: Administer radiolabeled cobalamin 0.5-2.0 mCi PO to fasted patients. One to 6 hours later, administer unlabeled cobalamin 1000 mcg IM to saturate transcobalamin and flush hepatic storage. Measure the percentage of radiolabeled cobalamin in a 24-hour urine specimen. Urinary excretion within the reference range is 10-35% over 24 hours. Reduced urinary excretion of cobalamin, ie, less than 7-9% based on individual laboratory reference range values, in persons with normal renal function supports decreased absorption of oral cobalamin. If excretion is low, proceed to stage 2.
  • Stage 2: Stage 1 is repeated with coadministration of porcine IF 60 mg. If the absorption of cobalamin is normalized, the presumptive diagnosis is PA. If poor absorption persists after administration, proceed to stage 3.
  • Stage 3: Tetracycline is administered for 5 days prior to reperformance of stage 1 to exclude blind loop as the etiology.
  • Stage 4: Pancreatic enzymes are administered with repetition of stage 1 to test for pancreatic disease.
  • Caveats: If vitamin B-12 is administered 48 hours before the Schilling test, dilution of the radiolabeled cobalamin and spuriously low apparent urinary excretion and false-positive results occur. False-negative values occur in food-bound malabsorption due to achlorhydria. True negative results are from dietary deficiencies (vegan) and cobalamin binding–protein abnormalities.

   

  

   
• Routine hematologic and chemistry tests

  • Hematologic abnormalities may be absent at the time of neurologic presentation.
  • Vitamin B-12 deficiency produces the classic picture of macrocytic anemia, with a mean corpuscular value (MCV) greater than 100 fL. The MCV correlates with estimated vitamin B-12 level:
    • MCV of 80-100 fL (normal) indicates less than 25% probability of vitamin B-12 deficiency.
    • MCV of 115-129 fL indicates a 50% probability.
    • MCV greater than 130 fL indicates a 100% probability.
  • Peripheral blood smear shows macro-ovalocytosis, anisocytosis, and poikilocytosis, as well as basophilic stippling of the erythrocytes and Howell-Jolly bodies. Reticulocyte count can be within the reference range or low. Hypersegmentation (>5% of neutrophils with > 5 lobes or 1% with > 6 lobes) of polymorphonuclear cells may occur without anemia. Thrombocytopenia is observed in approximately 50% of patients, and platelets often have bizarre size and shape.
  • Serum indirect bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) may be elevated because PA can have a hemolytic component.
  • Achlorhydria is present in many patients with PA.

   

  

   
• Laboratory parameters after administration of vitamin B-12

  • Anemic patients
    • Reticulocytosis starts in 3-4 days and peaks at 1 week.
    • Hemoglobin concentration rises in 10 days and returns to the reference range in 8 weeks.
    • LDH falls within 2 days.
    • Hypersegmented neutrophils disappear in 1-2 weeks.
  • Patients with severe anemia and borderline-to-low iron stores
    • Serum iron level falls within 24 hours because of increased erythropoiesis.
    • Hypokalemia may develop because of increased potassium utilization in hematopoiesis.

   

  

   

• References

Imaging Studies

See the list below:

• Because of the increased incidence of gastric cancer in PA, gastric radiographic series are suggested at the first visit.
• In patients with myelopathy, MRI may reveal regional T2 and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) hyperintensities mainly in the thoracic posterior columns with possible extension into the brain stem. In patients with chronic disease, atrophy of the spinal cord is observed.
• Brain MRI may show T2 and FLAIR hyperintensities in the cerebral white matter and around the fourth ventricle.
• Brain MRI of infants with vitamin B-12 deficiency may show delayed myelination.

• References

Other Tests

See the list below:

• Abnormal evoked potentials may be the first electrodiagnostic finding, even in asymptomatic patients with normal neurologic examination findings. The abnormalities are often referable to a central conduction defect; however, peripheral nerves are also affected.
• Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) may reveal prolongation of L3-P27 latency, reflecting a defect in conduction in the large-fiber sensory pathway between the cauda equina and the contralateral sensory cortex.
• Visual evoked potential (VEP) findings are as follows:

  • VEP findings may be abnormal even without visual symptoms or signs.
  • Prolongation of the P100 waveform can be unilateral or bilateral.
  • P100 may normalize after cobalamin replacement.

   

  

   
• Nerve conduction study (NCS)/EMG findings are as follows:

  • In 1943, Dynes and Norcross found evidence of neuropathy in 23% of patients with PA.^[21]
  • In a recent study, up to 65% of untreated patients had peripheral neuropathy.
  • Axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy is present in up to 80%. Demyelinating or mixed forms are less frequent.
  • Typical features are decreased conduction velocities and motor or sensory amplitude and denervation on EMG.
  • In 1991, Healton et al found decreased motor nerve conduction velocities (NCV), absent or reduced sensory potentials, and fibrillations in the distal muscles indicating mixed demyelinating-axonal disease in 7 of 9 cases of vitamin B-12 deficiency and neuropathy.^[19]
  • In 1998, Steiner et al described 5 patients with demyelinating polyneuropathy.^[22]
  • Sensory nerves are usually more affected than motor nerves and are more severely affected distally than proximally. Proximal focal conduction block has been reported, which reversed on treatment.

   

  

   
• Electroencephalography (EEG) findings may be normal or show nonspecific slowing. Follow-up EEG findings may be improved in response to treatment.

• References

Procedures

See the list below:

• Bone marrow aspiration may be performed for histologic examination.

• References

Histologic Findings

The CNS is better characterized than the PNS in vitamin B-12 deficiency. The classic picture is subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord involving the dorsal columns and corticospinal tracts. Lesions are concentrated in the cervical and upper thoracic cord and the cerebrum.

Spinal cord findings

See the list below:

• Macroscopic: It may be shrunken in anteroposterior diameter. The posterior and lateral columns may be gray-white in color.
• Microscopic: Multifocal vacuolated and demyelinated lesions exist in the white matter of the posterior and lateral columns. Early in the course, myelin sheaths are swollen, but axons appear normal; the largest fibers are predominantly affected. Demyelination starts in the center of the posterior columns of the upper thoracic cord. Then, lesions spread laterally and cranially to the lateral corticospinal tracts in the cervical segments and the medulla. Myelin breakdown, foamy macrophages, and occasional lymphocytes are characteristic, predominantly in a perivascular location. As demyelination and vacuolation increase, axons degenerate. Gliosis may be present in older lesions.

  • Electronic microscopic findings have only been used in nonhuman primates, not in humans. In the rhesus monkey model, the posterior and lateral spinal cord shows myelin degeneration characterized by separation of myelin lamellae and formation of intramyelin vacuoles leading to complete destruction of the myelin sheath and later to degeneration and loss of axons and gliosis.
  • Vitamin B-12 deficiency myelopathy is virtually indistinguishable from vacuolar myelopathy in AIDS, which is also characterized by vacuolation between the myelin sheaths accompanied by macrophage infiltration. However, the presence of multinucleated giant cells is characteristic of AIDS and not of vitamin B-12 deficiency.

   

  

   

Brain findings

See the list below:

• Macroscopic: The brain appears normal.
• Microscopic: Findings resemble the spinal cord pathology with scanty small perivascular foci of demyelination within the white matter featuring myelin swelling and axon degeneration. The optic nerve typically shows degeneration, predominantly in the papillomacular bundles.

Peripheral nervous system findings

See the list below:

• Unlike EMG/NCS findings, which indicate predominantly axonal or mixed axonal-demyelinating neuropathy, histologic examination suggests either primary demyelinating or axonal neuropathy with secondary demyelination. However, most studies were performed before the introduction of semithin, teased fiber, and electron microscopy analysis.

  • A biopsy of the anterior tibial nerve recorded loss of myelin sheath and no loss of axons.^[23]
  • A sural biopsy revealed loss of myelinated fibers and no demyelination in teased fibers, indicating secondary demyelination.^[24]
  • In 1959, Coers and Woolf found endplate and preterminal axon abnormalities in muscle biopsies of patients with cobalamin deficiency, suggesting axonal damage.^[25]

   

  

   
• The pathology is better described in animal models. In cobalamin-deficient rats, electron microscopy revealed intramyelin and endoneural edema, with no or minimal axonal damage (reversible on administration of cobalamin) in nerves, dorsal root ganglia, and the ventral and dorsal roots.
• Dalla Torre et al report 2 patients with isolated sensory axonal neuropathy secondary to vitamin B12 deficiency who recovered after cyanocobalamin replacement.^[26]

Nonneurologic findings

See the list below:

• Bone marrow hyperplasia
• Mild-to-moderate splenomegaly
• Increased iron deposits in the reticuloendothelial system
• Atrophy in all layers of the stomach, sparing the pyloroduodenal region

• References

Medical Care

See the list below:

• Establish the diagnosis and etiology of vitamin B-12 deficiency and treat with adequate doses.^[27]
• The consequences of vitamin B-12 deficiency, encephalopathy, myelopathy, and peripheral and optic neuropathy require adequate medical care.
• Physical therapy and occupational therapy are needed to improve gait, balance, and arm function. Patients may require canes or a walker for ambulation and safety.
• In patients with encephalopathy, neuropsychological interventions may improve cognition, social functioning, and interpersonal relationships.
• Patients with PA are at increased risk for gastric carcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, and carcinoid tumors and must be monitored.

• References

Consultations

Consultations with a gastroenterologist, a hematologist, and a neurologist must be considered.

• References

Diet

When the cause of vitamin B-12 deficiency is low intake, recommend that patients eat food that contains vitamin B-12 such as meat, eggs, cheese, and yogurt. Supplementation is required when religious or cultural restrictions render dietary changes impossible.

• References

Activity

In most patients with vitamin B-12–associated neuropathy/myelopathy, no restriction on physical activity is necessary unless weakness or gait ataxia is severe. Also, severe encephalopathy may lead to 24-hour supervision. In severe anemia or congestive heart failure, the patient should limit strenuous exercise.

• References

Medication Summary

Standard treatment in patients with vitamin B-12 deficiency consists of parenteral or oral cobalamin. The hematologic abnormalities may respond to folate, but the neurologic manifestations only respond to cobalamin.

Numerous treatment regimens have been proposed, including cobalamin 1000 mcg IM/SC daily for 5 days followed by 1000 mcg/wk for 5 weeks, then 100-1000 mcg/mo for life.

Because 1% of cobalamin is absorbed by passive diffusion, administration of large oral doses is an alternative; 1000 mcg daily yields a daily absorption of 10 mcg, which exceeds the 2-mcg recommended daily allowance (RDA) requirement.

In addition to cobalamin replacement, oral IF supplementation is being evaluated. Supplementation with SAM or methionine-rich diets are being studied for N ₂ O-induced myeloneuropathies.

Diagnosis and treatment of tapeworm infection and celiac and Crohn diseases can improve intestinal vitamin B-12 malabsorption. With blind loop syndrome, tetracycline can normalize the intestinal flora and vitamin B-12 absorption.

• References

Cyanocobalamin (Berubigen, Cyanoject)

• Dosing, Interactions, etc.

Clinical Context:  Most stable and available form of vitamin B-12. Absorbed rapidly to the organism from IM or SC applications.

Oral cyanocobalamin can replace parenteral formulations. Is effective in PA because 1% of free cobalamin is absorbed via diffusion rather than requiring the presence of IF.

• References

Folic acid (Folvite)

• Dosing, Interactions, etc.

Clinical Context:  Folate supplementation can reverse the hematologic abnormalities, but the neurologic manifestations only respond to cobalamin.

• References

Class Summary

Cyanocobalamin is used to replenish the deficiency caused by any of the etiologies described.

• References

Further Outpatient Care

Patients with neurologic impairment may require additional care in skilled nursing units or rehabilitation facilities. Outpatient follow-up is required to ensure response to therapy.

• References

Further Inpatient Care

Once therapy is initiated, hospitalization is only required for patients with life-threatening anemia or with severe neurologic deficits requiring supervision or rehabilitation.

• References

Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

See the list below:

• Cobalamin 100-1000 mcg/mo SC/IM, 1000 mcg/d PO is provided for lifelong maintenance.
• Compliance must be verified to avoid recurrence of symptoms.

• References

Deterrence/Prevention

See the list below:

• Relatives of patients with PA must be made aware of the increased familial incidence.
• Individuals with total gastrectomy, pancreatectomy, or atrophic gastritis should undergo periodic testing for vitamin B-12 deficiency.
• Testing vitamin B-12 (and folate) levels in elderly patients is good practice because of the high incidence of deficiencies. Asymptomatic deficiency should be worked up and treated.
• Strict vegetarians should supplement vitamin B-12 in their diets.

• References

Complications

See the list below:

• If left untreated, neurologic complications worsen.
• Severe anemia may lead to congestive heart failure.
• Incidence of atrophic gastritis, gastric carcinoma, and carcinoid tumors is increased in patients with PA.
• Patients with PA are at increased risk for other autoimmune disorders, such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, type 1 diabetes mellitus, Hashimoto thyroiditis, hypogammaglobulinemia, vitiligo, and rheumatoid arthritis.^[28]
• Risk of neural tube defects is increased in untreated pregnant women.

• References

Prognosis

See the list below:

• Therapy with vitamin B-12 in subacute combined degeneration stops progression and improves neurologic deficit in most patients.
• Younger patients with less severe disease and short duration illness do better.
• In a large retrospective review of 57 patients with subacute combined degeneration, absence of sensory level, absent Rhomberg sign, and flexor planter reflex were associated with good prognosis.^[29]
• On spinal MRI, involvement of less than 7 spinal segments, cord swelling, and enhancement, but not cord atrophy, were associated with better prognosis.^[29]
• Clinical improvement is most pronounced in the first 2 months but continues up to 6 months.

• References