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Vitamin B12 Deficiency

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Hematology in the Adolescent Female

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Abstract

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency and its related hematological and neurological manifestations, of which pernicious and megaloblastic anemia are the most recognized entities, have puzzled the medical community for over a century. These conditions are described in all ages, race and ethnicities, continents, and socioeconomic groups. Among the etiologies identified in vitamin B12 deficiency, nutritional deficiency, including restrictive diets due to access to appropriate food items, food or oral aversion, or personal choice, is recognized in developed and developing countries. Other etiologies include inherited or genetic defect in the metabolism of vitamin B12, immune-mediated, or absorption-related defects. Understanding the pathophysiology of this phenomenon has allowed us to provide the adequate treatment to reverse the changes in the affected systems successfully.

The emphasis of this chapter focuses in the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment of the most common causes of vitamin B12 deficiency and its hematological signs and symptoms as they pertain in particular to adolescent females.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center at Montefiore, The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA

    Jennifer Davila

  2. Hemophilia Treatment Center, Hemostasis and Thrombosis Program, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Maria C. Velez-Yanguas

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  1. Jennifer Davila
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  2. Maria C. Velez-Yanguas
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Correspondence to Jennifer Davila .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Lakshmi V. Srivaths

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Davila, J., Velez-Yanguas, M.C. (2020). Vitamin B12 Deficiency. In: Srivaths, L. (eds) Hematology in the Adolescent Female. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48446-0_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48446-0_18

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