Macrocytic Anemia with Anisocytosis Due to Alcohol Abuse and Vitamin B<sub>6</sub> Deficiency

DOI PubMed 8 References
  • IWAMA Hiroshi
    The First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical College
  • IWASE Osamu
    The First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical College
  • HAYASHI Shigefumi
    The First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical College
  • NAKANO Masaru
    The First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical College
  • TOYAMA Keisuke
    The First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical College

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • アルコールとビタミンB<sub>6</sub>欠乏が原因の赤血球大小不同を伴う大球性貧血

Search this article

Description

Megaloblastic anemia due to folic acid deficiency and ringed sideroblastic anemia have been reported in alcohol abusers. It has also been reported that vitamin B6 deficiency causes ringed sideroblastic anemia as well as microcytic anemia that is not associated with ringed sideroblasts. We encountered a case of macrocytic anemia with anisocytosis in a 75-year-old alcohol abuser who suffered vitamin B6 deficiency. Neither megaloblastic changes nor ringed sideroblasts were observed in specimens of the patient's bone marrow. Analyses of porphyrin content and heme biosynthetic enzyme activity suggested a decline in ALA-synthase activity (an enzyme that depends on vitamin B6) as well as decreased ferrochelatase activity or abnormal iron metabolism. Abstention from alcohol led to a reduction in mean corpuscular volume and the disappearance of Pappenheimer bodies commonly observed in the red blood cells of drinkers. Follow-up supplements of vitamin B6 resolved the patient's anisocytosis and anemia.

Journal

  • Rinsho Ketsueki

    Rinsho Ketsueki 39 (11), 1127-1130, 1998

    The Japanese Society of Hematology

References(8)*help

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top