Significantly higher frequencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with Behcet's disease
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Journal Volume
117
Journal Issue
10
Pages
932-938
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Abstract
Background/Purpose: Behcet's disease (BD) patients may have one or more hematinic deficiencies. This study evaluated whether there were significantly higher frequencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia in BD patients. Methods: The blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine concentrations in 63 BD patients were measured and compared with the corresponding levels in 126 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Results: We found that 30.2%, 34.9%, 6.3%, 6.3%, and 14.3% of 63 BD patients had hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively. Both 63 BD and 19 major-typed RAS/BD patients had significantly higher frequencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia than 126 healthy control subjects (all P-values < 0.05). Moreover, 44 minor-typed RAS/BD patients had significantly higher frequencies of hemoglobin and iron deficiencies than 126 healthy control subjects (both P-values < 0.001). Of the 19 anemic BD patients, one had pernicious anemia, one had macrocytic anemia, 12 had normocytic anemia, four had iron deficiency anemia, and one had thalassemia trait-induced anemia. Conclusion: There are significantly higher frequencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia in BD patients. The normocytic anemia is the most common type of anemia in our 63 BD patients. We suggest that supplementations of vitamin BC capsules plus deficient vitamin B12 and/or folic acid may reduce the abnormally high serum homocysteine level to a relatively lower level in BD patients with hyperhomocysteinemia. ? 2018
SDGs
Other Subjects
antianemic agent; cyanocobalamin; folic acid; hemoglobin; homocysteine; iron; adolescent; adult; aged; anemia; Behcet disease; blood; case control study; complication; cyanocobalamin deficiency; female; folic acid deficiency; human; hyperhomocysteinemia; male; mean corpuscular volume; middle aged; Taiwan; very elderly; young adult; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anemia; Behcet Syndrome; Case-Control Studies; Erythrocyte Indices; Female; Folic Acid; Folic Acid Deficiency; Hematinics; Hemoglobins; Homocysteine; Humans; Hyperhomocysteinemia; Iron; Male; Middle Aged; Taiwan; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency; Young Adult
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article