VITAMIN B_12 AND MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA: RECENT STUDIES
Authors: MILTON S. SACKS
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1954)

Editorial1 February 1954VITAMIN B12 AND MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA: RECENT STUDIESMILTON S. SACKS, M.D.MILTON S. SACKS, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-40-2-375 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptSince 1948 three substances have been available to the clinician for the treatment of megaloblastic anemias. These three, all members of the vitamin B complex, are folic acid, citrovorum factor (folinic acid), and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin). Studies of their interrelationship have not only cast new light on the pathogenesis of pernicious anemia, but also permit further insight into the complexities of nucleoprotein metabolism. Although much remains to be elucidated, a brief resumé of some significant recent contributions may be of interest.With the exception of rare cases of refractory megaloblastic anemia (achrestic anemia) all other megaloblastic anemias respond favorably, either...1 VilterSpies CFTD: The treatment of pernicious and related anemias with synthetic folic acid, J. Lab. and Clin. Med. 32: 262, 1947. MedlineGoogle Scholar2 DavidsonGirdwoodClark LSRHJR: Pernicious anemia of pregnancy and the puerperium, Brit. M. J. 1: 819, 1948. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3 ZuelzerOgden WWFN: Folic acid therapy in macrocytic anemias of infancy, J. Lab. and Clin. Med. 32: 1217, 1947. MedlineGoogle Scholar4 Girdwood RH: The interrelationships of factors that influence the megaloblastic anemias, Blood 7: 77, 1952. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5 BerkCastleWelchHeinleAnkerEpstein LWBADRWRM: Observations on the etiologic relationship of achylia gastrica to pernicious anemia. X. 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