Pediatria pre prax 5/2016

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 in human body plays an important role as a cofactor in various important enzyme reactions of intermediary metabolism. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused by malabsorption in gastrointestinal tract, by low dietary intake or by genetically caused diseases. Deficiency of vitamin B12 is firstly observed in tissues with quick proliferation and metabolism, such as hematopoietic tissue, mucosa of gastrointestinal tract and nervous tissue. Therefore we can observe various hematological, neurological and gastrointestinal clinical manifestations. In following article we are describing case reports of two children with serious vitamin B12 deficiency. This deficiency led to apathy, organomegaly and pancytopenia. Clinical signs imitating malignant diseases.

Keywords: vitamin B12 deficiency, psychomotor development, pancytopenia, child nutrition, substitution of vitamin B12