Anemia Caused by Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

Anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency (pernicous anemia) is a megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency.

In addition to iron, bone marrow requires vitamin B-12 and folic acid to produce red blood cells. If lack of one of them, megaloblastic anemia can accur.

In this type of anemia, the bone marrow to produce red blood cells are large and abnormal (megaloblas). White blood cells and platelets are also usually abnormal.

Megaloblastic anemia is most often caused by a deficiency of vitamin B-12 and folic acid in foods or the inability to absorb the vitamin. Sometimes anemia is caused by certain medicines used to treat cancer (eg methotrexate, hydroxyurea, fluorouracil and cytarabine).

Posted in: Anemia