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Vitamin B12 Deficient Megaloblastic Anemia Mimicking Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

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Abstract

Megaloblastic anemia is a benign disorder characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis due to lack of vitamin B12 or folate. Megaloblastic anemia could be easily treated with either vitamin B12 or folate. However, a megaloblastic anemia patient may show schizocyte and hemolytic anemia with thrombocytopenia, necessitating to exclude urgent diseases like thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. We have experienced the vitamin B12–deficient megaloblastic anemia patient mimicking thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. We should know the rare coexistence of hemolytic anemia with megaloblastic anemia in severe cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, Japanese Red Cross Wakayama Medical Center, 4-20, Komatsubara-dori, Wakayama, Wakayama, 640-8558, Japan

    Yutaka Shimazu & Masaharu Nohgawa

  2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Japanese Red Cross Wakayama Medical Center, 4-20, Komatsubara-dori, Wakayama, Wakayama, 640-8558, Japan

    Takeya Edagawa

Authors
  1. Yutaka Shimazu
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  2. Takeya Edagawa
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  3. Masaharu Nohgawa
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Correspondence to Yutaka Shimazu.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in this study involving the patient were in accordance with the ethical standards of our institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Written informed consent was obtained from this patient.

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Shimazu, Y., Edagawa, T. & Nohgawa, M. Vitamin B12 Deficient Megaloblastic Anemia Mimicking Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. SN Compr. Clin. Med. 2, 235–236 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-019-00210-1

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