Hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in oral mucosal disease patients with folic acid deficiency

Julia Yu Fong Chang, Yi Ping Wang, Yang Che Wu, Shih Jung Cheng, Hsin Ming Chen, Andy Sun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Folic acid deficiency (FAD) may result in macrocytic anemia. This study assessed the hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in oral mucosal disease patients with FAD (defined as folic acid ≤ 6 ng/mL). Methods: The blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B 12 , and folic acid concentrations, serum gastric parietal cell antibody level, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in 198 oral mucosal disease patients with FAD were measured. Based on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, anemia or Hb deficiency was defined as having an Hb concentration of <13 g/dL for men and <12 g/dL for women. In this study, macrocytic anemia due to FAD was defined as having an MCV ≥100 fL and folic acid ≤6 ng/mL; pernicious anemia as having MCV ≥100 fL, vitamin B 12 < 200 pg/mL, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody positivity; iron deficiency anemia as having MCV <80 fL and iron <60 μg/dL; and thalassemia trait as having MCV <74 fL, red blood cell (RBC) count > 5.0 × 10 12 /L, and Mentzer index (MCV/RBC) < 13. Results: We found that by WHO definitions, 73 (36.9%), 41 (20.7%), and 10 (5.1%) of our 198 FAD patients had concomitant Hb, iron, and vitamin B 12 deficiencies, respectively. Of 73 anemic FAD patients, three had macrocytic anemia due to FAD, one had pernicious anemia, 14 had iron deficiency anemia, eight had thalassemia trait, and the resting 47 had normocytic anemia. Conclusion: In addition to macrocytic anemia (2.0%), FAD patients may have concomitant normocytic (23.7%) or microcytic (11.1%) anemia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)806-812
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume114
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 1 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Folic acid
  • Macrocytic anemia
  • Microcytic anemia
  • Normocytic anemia
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Vitamin B

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine(all)

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