MEGALOBLASTIC-ANEMIA IN A CHILD WITH LATENT MATERNAL PERNICIOUS-ANEMIA

We report on a 5-month-old boy who was referred to the hospital with t he diagnosis of leukemia and seizures. Laboratory investigations revea led megaloblastic anemia, pancytopenia, and megaloblastic changes in t he bone marrow. The vitamin B12 level was significantly decreased. The patient was strictly breastfed and the vitamin B12 level of the mothe r also was very low. Despite this, the mother did not show any clinica l sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. The only laboratory finding was the elevated MCV of the mother's erythrocytes. Endoscopy of the mother rev ealed only mild chronic-atrophic gastritis. The patient was treated wi th vitamin B12 i.m., and he recovered very quickly from hematologic an d neurologic problems. Breastfeeding was discontinued and vitamin B12 i.m was substituted.