The pathogenesis of megaloblastic anaemias and the value of vitamin B12.

The vitamin B12 concentrations of serum and urine of normals and of patients with megaloblastic anaemias and other diseases.

Until recently deficiency of vitamin B12 in man could only be recognized by finding the characteristic clinical and haematological signs of the deficiency and by demonstrating that these signs were cured or relieved by treatment with the vitamin. Changes in the vitamin B12 content of the tissues could only be inferred from the responses of patients to treatment. The recent introduction of highl...

The present position of the treatment of megaloblastic anaemias.

A distinction must be drawn between megaloblastic and macrocytic anaemias. Not all macrocytic anaemias are megaloblastic and not all megaloblastic anaemias are macrocytic. The term macrocytosis refers to the size of red blood cells in the peripheral blood. The mean cell volume of packed red blood cells (haematocrit) may be greater than normal, or the diameters of a proportion of red blood cells...

The absorption of vitamin B12 in the megaloblastic anaemias.

Urinary formiminoglutamic acid in the megaloblastic anaemias associated with pregnancy and malnutrition.

The pathogenesis of many of the common forms of megaloblastic anaemia in malnourished populations is obscure. The aetiological factors and response to therapy vary in different geographical areas, and confusion has arisen by the retention of certain ambiguous terms. Thus "nutritional megaloblastic anaemia" is often really megaloblastic anaemia associated with pregnancy, and "tropical megaloblas...

Effects of Vitamin B12 in Neonates and Young Infants

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential coenzyme for nucleic acid synthesis. Animal protein is the major dietary source of vitamin B12. Deficiency of vitamin B12 leads to megaloblastic anemia, degeneration of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and abnormalities of epithelial tissues. Two factors are necessary for the cure of megaloblastic anemia: one in food (extrinsic factor) and one i...