Severe B12 Deficiency Causing a Maturation Defect Mimicking Myelodysplastic Syndrome With Excess Blasts.

Abstract

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common condition that is often asymptomatic, though in severe cases may cause megaloblastic anemia and even neurologic symptoms. Occasionally, the clinical presentation can include pancytopenia and thus mimic a more concerning myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) until corrected by B12 supplementation. In this unusual case, we present a patient with B12 deficiency who presents with severe macrocytic anemia, neutropenia, lymphocytosis, and a bone marrow morphology consistent with MDS.