Megaloblastic Anemia in Pregnancy. Remission Following Combined Therapy with Ascorbic Acid and Vitamin B12.

Abstract

Megaloblastic anemia in pregnancy was compared with the megaloblastic anemia experimentally produced in monkeys and that found in some infants. These anemias respond to folic acid therapy but are refractory to vit. B12. The 5 cases of pregnancy megaloblastic anemia reported were all diagnosed in the spring mos. when ascorbic acid stores are apt to be low. In 3 of the 5 cases, low or zero plasma ascorbic acid levels were found. Three of the 5 cases responded to combined ascorbic acid and vit. B12 therapy where each of the latter separately had failed to produce a remission. One case responded to folic acid therapy after failure of vit. B12 to produce a remission. One case had a spontaneous remission following delivery. Pathogenesis of megaloblastic anemia in pregnancy in similar to that of the experimentally produced megaloblastic anemia in monkeys and the megaloblastic anemia of some infants. It is probably related to ascrobic acid deficiency and can be prevented by adequate intake of ascorbic acid during pregnancy.