Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2012.263.266SoleimanpourHassan TaheraghdamAliakbar PashapourAli HokmabadiElyar Sadeghi MohammadiNeda 52012155Vitamin B12 deficiency (B12D) has wide variety of neurological
and non-neurological signs and symptoms. We describe a 61-year-old man who was
admitted to Emergency Department (ED) with trouble to walk independently, suffering
from weakness and a long history of dyspepsia that had worsened in the last
four weeks. He had mild impairment of cognitive functions; motor strength was
normal and his patellar and achilles reflexes were absent, also the plantar
reflexes were abolished. All blood tests were normal except hemoglobin concentration
which showed mild anemia. At further studies regarding trouble walking of this
patient, he was candidated for lumbar disk surgery based on mild disk bulging
seen at L3-L4 level in the lumbar spine MRI. Further examinations before the
surgery due to approach to anemia showed severely decreased serum vitamin B12
level. The patients symptoms improved after treating with intramuscular
cobalamin. Being a very commonly seen disorder in the general population, B12
deficiency should be born in mind as a probable diagnosis in patients with peripheral
neuropathy and no clear underlying cause presenting to the ED. Therefore, simple
screening with a CBC might decrease the neurologic complications, morbidity
and inappropriate workups through early diagnosis and treatment.]]>Goebels, N. and M. Soyka,200012 deficiency: Presentation of two cases and review of the literature.]]>12389394Healton, E.B., D.G. Savage, J.C. Brust, T.J. Garrett and J. Lindenbaum,199170229245Toh, B.H., I.R. Van Driela and P.A. Gleeson,199733714411448Bradley, W.G., R.B. Daroff, G.M. Fenichel and J. Jankovic,20085th Edn.,Pages: 2327Pages: 2327Soleimanpour, H., C. Gholipouri, S. Salarilak, P. Raoufi and R.G. Vahidi et al.,20112011Bradley, W.G.,20085th Edn.,Pages:1646Pages:1646Toosi, T.D., F. Shahi, A. Afshari, N. Roushan and M. Kermanshahi,20082008Singh, N.N. and S.R Benbadis,20102010Svenson, J., 200725987.e3987.e4