This probably is the first definite case in Japan, although another cases were presented by KAWAKITA, and YAMAGATA et al.
A 67-year-old housewife was referred to the Hospital in July, 1959, because of glossitis for 2.5 years.
No menses since 30 years of age when she was irradiated for control of abnormal uterine bleeding. At the age of 53 developed an intestinal obstruction, surgically treated. Five years later reoperated because of volvulus.
In January, 1957, seven years after the second operation, she found her tongue red and sore. Shots of riboflavin, however, had little effect. A gastrointestinal series at another hospital in May was not remarkable.
On admission, this small, thin woman complained of nausea, vomiting, anorexia and dizziness. There were glossitis with erosions and ulcers, venous hum, a grade 1 apical systolic murmur, meteorism and hyperactive peristalsis in the lower abdomen, numbness in the right leg, and sluggish tendon reflexes. No jaundice, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, edema, or steatorrhea. Intestinal X-ray examination revealed no obvious change.
A considerable hyperchromic anemia, leukopenia, and erythroblastosis (Table 1 and 3). Bleeding time was 6 min., platelet count normal, and a tourniquet test negative. Sternal marrow appeared rather hypocellular (Table 2, Fig. 5): 19 per cent of erythroblasts were megaloblastic (Fig. 1 and 2), 44 per cent intermediate, and the remaining normal. Also, hypersegmented neutrophils (Fig. 4) and giant immature forms (Fig. 3). Acid gastric juice and serum protein of 5.4 gm. per 100 ml.
On daily intramuscular vitamin B
12 the glossitis, neurologic findings and bone marrow abnormalities rapidly improved, but macrocytic anemia and hypoplastic marrow persisted (Table 2 and 3, Fig. 7). On Aug. 17, discharged on vitamin B
12.
On the second admission, 7 months later, physical examination revealed a remarkably pale, ill woman with a mild fever, widespread petechiae, and no glossitis. Considerable pancytopenia and panmyelophthisis (Table 2 and 3, Fig. 6) were present. On the sixth hospital day, sudden death after a transfusion of erythrocyte suspension. No autopsy.
FABER admittedly described an original case of pernicious anemia associated with intestinal obstruction that might be attributed to a process now called Crohn disease. Since then appeared a number of excellent reviews, showing that either intestinal diverticulosis or anastomosis as well as obstruction may cause megaloblastic or macrocytic anemias. The nature of the disorder has not been necessarily elucidated. The above-mentioned case obviously had a symptomatic megaloblastic anemia well responded to vitamin B
12, and also a fatal macrocytic aplastic anemia. The pathogenesis of such anemias, therefore, must be very complicated.
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