Al-Jizani Ahmed S, Pathak Snehal, Palit Punam, Achufusi Nkechi
Gastroenterology, Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough, GBR.
Internal Medicine, Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough, GBR.
Cureus. 2024 Nov 13;16(11):e73617. doi: 10.7759/cureus.73617. eCollection 2024 Nov.
Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord is a neurological disorder marked by degeneration in the dorsal and lateral columns, commonly linked to vitamin B12 deficiency. This report presents a case of SCD caused by a functional vitamin B12 deficiency. Although the patient displayed symptoms such as ataxia, sensory deficits, and motor impairment, initial lab tests showed normal serum vitamin B12 levels, complicating the diagnostic process. A comprehensive assessment identified poor nutrition as the root cause affecting the body's vitamin B12 metabolism. This case highlights the importance of considering SCD in patients with neurological symptoms, even when serum B12 levels appear normal. The report calls for greater awareness and thorough evaluation of vitamin B12 metabolic pathways in patients with unexplained neurological symptoms, emphasizing the need for clinicians to look beyond standard serum levels when assessing potential deficiencies.
脊髓亚急性联合变性（SCD）是一种神经系统疾病，其特征为脊髓背侧和外侧柱发生变性，通常与维生素B12缺乏有关。本报告介绍了一例由功能性维生素B12缺乏引起的SCD病例。尽管患者表现出共济失调、感觉障碍和运动功能受损等症状，但最初的实验室检查显示血清维生素B12水平正常，这使得诊断过程变得复杂。全面评估确定营养不良是影响人体维生素B12代谢的根本原因。该病例强调了在有神经症状的患者中考虑SCD的重要性，即使血清B12水平看似正常。报告呼吁提高对不明原因神经症状患者维生素B12代谢途径的认识并进行全面评估，强调临床医生在评估潜在缺乏症时需超越标准血清水平进行考量。
