Abstract
Background: Patients of hematological malignancies are reported to be deficient in folate and vitamin B12. The
aim of this study was to estimate serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in children with hematological malignancies
to find out the frequency of deficiencies in different type of hematological malignancies.
Material & Methods: In this case control study, 102 children (24 females and 78 males, aged 1.5-16 years)
presenting with different hematological malignancies were enrolled. Serum folate and vitamin B12 levels were
estimated and matched with controls (30) children with non-hematological malignancies. Folic acid and vitamin
B12 levels were estimated by electrochemiluminescence technique.
Result: Children with hematological malignancies were categorized into acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL,
61), acute myeloid leukemia (AML, 18), Hodgkin’s disease (HD, 12) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL, 11). The
vitamin B12 levels in these cases and controls were 482.06±480.29 pg/mL, 582.33±500.43 pg/mL, 438.2±355.09
pg/mL, 324.91±198.14 pg/mL and 864.54±733.49 pg/mL respectively. The serum folate was 9.23±8.53 ng/mL,
6.32±3.85 ng/mL, 9.66±10.16 ng/mL, 10.56±10.30 ng/mL and 12.73±15.96 ng/mL respectively. Serum vitamin
B12 levels varied differently among different hematological malignancies, it was significantly lower in ALL (p=0.003)
followed by NHL (p=0.02). Serum folate was lowest in AML as compared to controls but not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency was higher in children with HD while folate deficiency in
AML. Serum vitamin B12 levels varied differently among different hematological malignancies, it was significantly
lower in ALL followed by NHL. While folate levels were lowest in AML as compared to controls but not statistically
significant.
Sneha Tandon, Kalpana Singh, Anand Ruban, Bhawna Singh, Abbas Ali Mahdi, Archana Kumar. (2014) ESTIMATION OF SERUM FOLATE AND VITAMIN B12 LEVELS IN CHILDREN WITH HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES, Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences , Volume 12, Issue 2.
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