A patient presents with pale
conjunctiva, pale palms, and reveals that he switched to a strict vegan diet a
few years ago. What might be the cause of his pallor?
Anemia is defined as an abnormally low circulating red blood cell (RBC) mass, reflected by low serum hemoglobin (Hb). The specific anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency is a macrocytic, megaloblastic anemia, meaning RBC are enlarged compared to normal with distinctively divided nuclei.
The classic symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency include those seen with any anemia (fatigue, shortness of breath, and tachycardia) and additional neurolopyschiatric symptoms such as paresthesias, weakness, impaired memory, and personality changes.
Patients with B12 deficiency may be pale, mildly icteric or sallow. Since Vitamin B12 is present in foods of animal origin, dietary vitamin B12 deficiency is extremely rare but is seen in vegans—strict vegetarians who avoid all dairy products as well as meat and fish.
Photo courtesy of: Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine
Iron deficiency anemia due to lack of meat intake? Reasoning being that iron bound to non-meat sources are harder to absorb.
ReplyDeleteClose!
ReplyDeleteAnemia is defined as an abnormally low circulating red blood cell (RBC) mass, reflected by low serum hemoglobin (Hb). The specific anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency is a macrocytic, megaloblastic anemia, meaning RBC are enlarged compared to normal with distinctively divided nuclei.
The classic symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency include those seen with any anemia (fatigue, shortness of breath, and tachycardia) and additional neurolopyschiatric symptoms such as paresthesias, weakness, impaired memory, and personality changes.
Patients with B12 deficiency may be pale, mildly icteric or sallow. Since Vitamin B12 is present in foods of animal origin, dietary vitamin B12 deficiency is extremely rare but is seen in vegans—strict vegetarians who avoid all dairy products as well as meat and fish.
Photo courtesy of: Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine
Explanation courtesy of: CURRENT Dx & Rx