RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Dietary folate deficiency with normal red cell folate and circulating blasts
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 313
OP 315
DO 10.1136/jcp.56.4.313
VO 56
IS 4
A1 Stark, G L
A1 Hamilton, P J
YR 2003
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/56/4/313.abstract
AB This report describes a 26 year old woman, of Pakistani origin, who presented five months postpartum with severe megaloblastic anaemia as a result of nutritional folate deficiency. This case was unusual in that a small number of myeloblasts were present in the peripheral blood at presentation, and this circulating population temporarily increased in size when folate replacement was begun. We also highlight the need to recognise the non-linear relation between haematocrit and red blood cell folate concentration when the haematocrit is very low (< 0.15) and emphasise the importance of the clinical history.