Blood profile of oral mucosal disease patients with both vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies lead to macrocytosis [mean corpuscular volume (MCV) ≥ 100 fL] and microcytosis (MCV < 80 fL), respectively. This study evaluated anemic status, MCV, serum homocysteine level, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) level in oral mucosal disease patients with both vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies.

METHODS

The blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine concentrations, MCV, and serum GPCA in 149 patients with both vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies were measured and compared with the corresponding data in 149 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects.

RESULTS

We found that 54 (36.2%), 16 (10.7%), 44 (29.5%), and 36 (24.2%) patients with both vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies had Hb deficiency (men <13 g/dL, women <12 g/dL), folic acid deficiency (≤ 6 mg/mL), abnormally high blood homocysteine level (>12.6 μM), and serum GPCA positivity, respectively. Patients with both vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies had a significantly higher frequency of Hb deficiency, abnormally elevated blood homocysteine level, and serum GPCA positivity than healthy control subjects (all p values < 0.001). Of 149 patients with both vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies, 10 (6.7%) had high MCV (≥ 100 fL), 108 (72.5%) had normal MCV (between 80 fL and 99 fL), and 31 (20.8%) had low MCV (<80 fL).

CONCLUSION

Approximately 73%, 30%, and 24% of patients with both vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies are found to have normal MCV, abnormally high blood homocysteine level, and serum GPCA positivity, respectively.