HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Clinicopathologic features of folate-deficiency neuropathy.

AbstractOBJECTIVE:
The clinical significance and characteristics of neuropathy caused by folate deficiency remain to be established.
METHODS:
We examined the clinicopathologic features of 18 consecutive patients with neuropathy caused by folate deficiency who presented with low serum folate levels but normal blood thiamine and serum cobalamin levels in the absence of chronic alcoholism.
RESULTS:
Symptoms were relatively uniform, characterized by slowly progressive polyneuropathy with predominant involvement of the lower extremities, with a tendency to manifest as sensory rather than motor neuropathy and predominant deep rather than superficial sensory loss. The electrophysiologic features were consistent with axonal neuropathy. The histopathologic features of sural nerve biopsy specimens indicated large fiber-predominant axonal loss without segmental demyelination. Although macrocytosis was found in 7 patients, only 3 patients exhibited hemoglobin levels less than 10 g/dL. During the same study period, we found 12 patients who had low blood thiamine levels but normal serum folate and cobalamin levels without chronic alcoholism. Compared with patients who had thiamine-deficiency neuropathy, patients with a folate deficiency showed significantly slower progression (p < 0.01), a tendency to manifest sensory neuropathy (p < 0.05), predominant deep sensory loss (p < 0.01), and preservation of biceps tendon reflexes (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Folate-deficiency neuropathy was characterized by a slowly progressive and sensory-dominant pattern, which was different from thiamine-deficiency neuropathy (i.e., beriberi neuropathy). This study demonstrates the importance of folate deficiency in the differential diagnosis of neuropathy, particularly in countries where folic acid fortification has not yet been practiced.
AuthorsHaruki Koike, Mie Takahashi, Ken Ohyama, Rina Hashimoto, Yuichi Kawagashira, Masahiro Iijima, Masahisa Katsuno, Hiroshi Doi, Fumiaki Tanaka, Gen Sobue
JournalNeurology (Neurology) Vol. 84 Issue 10 Pg. 1026-33 (Mar 10 2015) ISSN: 1526-632X [Electronic] United States
PMID25663227 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Copyright© 2015 American Academy of Neurology.
Chemical References
  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Folic Acid
Topics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alcoholism (complications)
  • Beriberi (physiopathology)
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Folic Acid (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
  • Folic Acid Deficiency (blood, complications, diet therapy, drug therapy)
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyneuropathies (chemically induced, pathology, physiopathology)
  • Sural Nerve (pathology)
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency (physiopathology)
  • Vitamin B Complex (administration & dosage, pharmacology)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: