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From Weakness to Wellness: A Rare Case of Severe Pancytopenia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

Authors :
Patel A
Chabot F
Hamid O
Source :
Cureus [Cureus] 2023 Aug 24; Vol. 15 (8), pp. e44017. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Aug 24 (Print Publication: 2023).
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency is a commonly seen nutritional deficiency that presents with a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms. In this report, we describe a case of a 49-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of a syncopal-like episode, generalized weakness, and severe pancytopenia, who was subsequently diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency upon admission. The patient underwent a thorough evaluation to exclude alternative etiologies for her presentation. Her clinical symptoms and blood count significantly improved after six days of treatment with vitamin B12 supplementation. While vitamin B12 deficiency is a commonly recognized issue, healthcare providers should be aware of its infrequent presentations. Our case serves as a reminder to clinicians to remain vigilant for acute onset manifestations and consider vitamin B12 deficiency as a differential diagnosis for the early management of pancytopenia.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.<br /> (Copyright © 2023, Patel et al.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2168-8184
Volume :
15
Issue :
8
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Cureus
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
37746468
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.44017