http://www.b12deficiency.info/misdiagnosis/
B12 deficiency can be misdiagnosed as:
- Dementia/Alzheimer's
- Multiple sclerosis
- Depression
- Post-Natal depression
- Psychosis
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Neuropathy (diabetic, CIDP)
- Vertigo
- Anaemia
- Congestive heart failure
- Autism
- ADHD
- Radiculopathy, chronic pain disorder
- CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- ME - Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Parkinson's disease
- FND (Functional neurological disorder)
Why is B12 deficiency commonly misdiagnosed?
- Extremely poor knowledge amongst doctors and other health care professionals
- Poor or absent screening in symptomatic and at-risk patients. Most doctors would not consider testing children or males as they assume elderly females are the only group at risk
- Clinicians ignore the neurological manifestations of B12 deficiency
- Current range for 'normal' serum B12 set far too low - as low as 110 in some parts of the UK
- Clinicians not treating symptomatic patients whose serum B12 levels are in the 'grey zone' (200-450 pg/ml)
- Lack of use of other sensitive tests to aid in diagnosis (uMMA - urinary methylmalonic acid, holotranscobalamin, homocysteine)
- Clinicians wait for enlarged red blood cells or macrocytic anaemia to be present
- Elderly are frequently misdiagnosed due to increased incidence of pre existing and co morbid conditions
- B12 screening not included in older adults who fall, have cognitive changes or dementia
- B12 screening not included in mental health patients
- Some Clinicians do not believe it is their responsibility to screen for it
Information provided with kind permission of Sally M. Pacholok R.N. & Dr. Jeffrey J. Stuart.
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