Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2018

Open Access 01.12.2018 | Case report

Vitamin B12 deficiency-induced pseudothrombotic microangiopathy without macrocytosis presenting with acute renal failure: a case report

verfasst von: Jennifer Vanoli, Andrea Carrer, Roberto Martorana, Guido Grassi, Michele Bombelli

Erschienen in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Ausgabe 1/2018

Abstract

Background

Vitamin B12 deficiency-induced thrombotic microangiopathy, known as pseudothrombotic microangiopathy, is a rare condition which resembles the clinical features of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura but requires a markedly different treatment. Most cases of vitamin B12 deficiency have only mild hematological findings, but in approximately 10% of patients life-threatening conditions have been reported.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 46-year-old Moroccan man presenting with severe hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure in absence of macrocytosis, thus mimicking a genuine thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Rapid improvement of renal function observed with only hydration and transfusions of packed red blood cells and the presence of pancytopenia suggested a bone marrow deficiency associated to a hemolytic component of unclear origin. Detection of low levels of vitamin B12 and rapid restitutio ad integrum with its replacement supported the diagnosis of pseudothrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.

Conclusions

Diagnosis of pseudothrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura caused by vitamin B12 deficiency might be difficult. Awareness of clinicians toward this differential diagnosis might spare patients from unnecessary therapeutic plasma exchange that is burdened by morbidity and mortality.
Hinweise

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​s13256-018-1815-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background

Thrombotic microangiopathies are rare conditions associated with a mortality of 10–20%. They include heterogeneous disorders, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome, characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, severe thrombocytopenia, and organ damage by microvascular occlusion [1].
Vitamin B12 deficiency-induced thrombotic microangiopathy, known as pseudothrombotic microangiopathy, is a rare condition which resembles the clinical features of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura but requires a markedly different treatment. Most cases of vitamin B12 deficiency have only mild hematological findings; however, in approximately 10% of patients, life-threatening conditions have been reported [2].
Here we report a case of pseudothrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura caused by vitamin B12 deficiency that is challenging because of the presentation with renal failure in the absence of macrocytosis, thus mimicking a genuine thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Distinguishing between the two allows avoidance of unnecessary aggressive treatments that are burdened by morbidity and mortality.

Case presentation

A 46-year-old Moroccan man with a history of cocaine and alcohol abuse, former smoker of 10 packs/year, detained in a penitentiary for 3 months, presented to an emergency department because of the finding by penitentiary doctors of severe anemia: hemoglobin (Hb) 43 g/L. He did not report previous concomitant comorbidities and he did not take any medication prior to hospital admission. It was difficult to collect a detailed family history because of a language barrier; he worked as a street vendor. He complained of progressive fatigue, arthromyalgia, upper finger paresthesia, mild abdominal pain, left ear tinnitus, and recurring headache for the previous 2 months. He denied fever, bleeding, and changes in bowel habits. At admission, severe normocytic anemia with Hb of 36 g/L, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 87 fl, hematocrit (htc) 10.8%, and random distribution of red cell width (RDW) of 27% was confirmed, with neutropenia (0.59 ×  109/L) and normal platelet count (15 × 109/L). On presentation he was oriented, afebrile (axillary temperature of 36 °C), and hemodynamically stable with blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg and a heart rate of 80 per minute. A physical examination showed pale skin, slight epigastralgia, and left tympanic membrane perforation; no lymphadenopathy, purpura, or hepatosplenomegaly were detected. A neurological examination was normal without any motor, sensory, or cranial nerves dysfunction except for slight upper finger paresthesia. Initial laboratory investigations revealed renal impairment with creatinine up to 176.8 μmol/L and azotemia 24.9 mmol/L, marked anisopoikilocytosis and multiple schistocytes (10%) on peripheral smear, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increase (19.7 μkat/L), haptoglobin less than 1 mg/L, and normal bilirubinemia (17.1 μmol/L). Coagulation studies were normal except for slight elevation of D-dimer (2.63 nmol/L); markers of inflammation were negative; liver function was normal with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 30 U/L and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 18 U/L. A direct Coombs test was negative, reticulocytes count was consistent with inappropriate bone marrow response (reticulocytes production index 0.061), and ferritin was within normal range.
Hydration with normal saline and blood transfusions with packed red blood cells were started. We observed an initial improvement of renal function but anemia did not improve enough despite transfusions with five bags of packed red blood cells, and it was associated to hemolysis (schistocytes, LDH further increase and haptoglobin consumed). In parallel we observed a progressive rapid decrease of platelet count down to 46 × 109/L and severe neutropenia was persistent without peripheral blasts. A diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome was considered, but the rapid improvement of renal function with only hydration and the pancytopenia suggested a bone marrow deficiency associated to a hemolytic component of unclear origin. We decided to keep on with blood transfusion support and to strictly monitor our patient until the results of further investigations; meanwhile, we started intramuscular vitamin B12 1000 mcg daily because of extremely low, barely detectable, plasma levels (< 36.9 pmol/L). Serology for cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, parvovirus B19, and Toxoplasma gondii were negative (past infection) as were serology for human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis virus. Bone marrow aspirate revealed normal cellularity with different cell types at various stages of maturation and without dysplastic alterations. An abdomen ultrasound showed normal kidneys and very slight splenomegaly (bipolar diameter 12.2 cm) without hepatomegaly and lymphadenopathy. See Additional file 1: Figure S1 for the timeline of the diagnostic and therapeutic flow of the present case report.
A week after beginning the vitamin B12 supplement we observed a dramatic hematological improvement with simultaneous decrease of hemolysis indexes; marked anisopoikilocytosis with teardrop cells (5%) persisted on peripheral smear without schistocytes (Fig. 1). Anti-parietal cell antibodies were negative; upper endoscopy showed moderate gastric corpus atrophy, without presence of Helicobacter pylori. Recovery was complicated by pneumonia and urinary tract infections which were treated with intravenously administered amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.
We discharged our asymptomatic patient 2 weeks after admission with normal renal function, moderate normocytic anemia (85 g/L), and normal platelet and neutrophil count (484 × 109/L and 2.79 × 109/L, respectively).
At a follow-up of 6 months, he was alive but it was not possible to collect further medical information because we were informed that he was a fugitive.

Discussion and conclusions

Thrombotic microangiopathies syndromes, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, are defined by clinical and pathological characteristics. The clinical features include microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and organ injury while the pathologic characteristic is vascular damage that is manifested by arteriolar and capillary thrombosis [3].
The classic presentation of vitamin B12 deficiency consists of macrocytic anemia with or without neurologic manifestations [4], but this condition  may present also with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytosis, mimicking thrombotic microangiopathy in approximately 2.5% of cases [5]. Discriminating between pseudothrombotic microangiopathy and a true microangiopathy hemolytic anemia is of paramount importance, as the treatments are markedly different.
Vitamin B12 is essential for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, hematopoietic cell division, and myelination. It is also needed as a cofactor for two reactions: the first one is the generation of methionine from homocysteine and the second is the conversion of methylmalonyl-coenzyme A to succinyl-coenzyme [6]. Hence, vitamin B12 deficiency results in the accumulation of homocysteine and methylmalonic acid. The pathogenesis of vitamin B12 deficiency-induced thrombotic microangiopathy is poorly understood but many studies suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia may be involved leading to clot activation and endothelial dysfunction, which results in fragmentation of erythrocytes to schistocytes [7, 8]. Moreover, vitamin B12 deficiency increases red blood cell membrane rigidity that results in intramedullary hemolysis and entrapment in the microcirculation [9, 10].
We report the case of a pseudothrombotic microangiopathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency, which is a rare manifestation described in only a few case reports in the literature, with the peculiarity of acute kidney failure and the absence of macrocytosis that made differential diagnosis cumbersome.
Although our case is similar to other pseudothrombotic thrombocytopenic purpuras because of inappropriate low reticulocyte count and lower bilirubin levels than expected [11], the finding of leukopenia and especially the presentation with acute renal kidney are unusual. Acute kidney injury and altered mental status, in fact, are more typical of true thrombotic microangiopathy. Only two other case reports described pseudothrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura associated to acute kidney injury, both explained by dehydration and hypoxia [12, 13]. In our case renal impairment was probably due to severe hypoxia, a consequence of anemia, since it rapidly improved after transfusions (Table 1).
Table 1
Comparison of four similar unusual cases of pseudothrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura caused by vitamin B12 deficiency presenting with renal failure and a lack of macrocytosis
Clinical characteristics
Patients series (Author and reference)
Present case report
Kandel et al. [12]
Walter et al. [13]
Dalsania et al. [14]
Garderet et al. [15]
Gender/Age
M/46
F/86
F/77
M/48
M/38
Hemoglobin (g/L)
[140–180]
36
32
55
50
45
MCV (fl)
[80–99]
87
127
120
80.2
90
WBC/neutrophil (× 109/L)
[4–11/1.5–7.5]
2.52/0.59
6.5/−
5.9/−
6.3/−
2.2/−
Platelets (×  109/L)
[140–440]
46
59
40
38
5
Creatinine (μmol/L)
[59–103]
176.8
168
300.6
97.2
Normal
Corrected reticulocyte count/Absolute reticulocyte count (× 109/L)
[0.5–2/25–75]
0.18/8.7
1.6/−
1.2/−
0.23/13
−/10
Schistocytosis
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
LDH (μkat/L)
[2.25–3.76]
24.6
118.2
66.5
150.1
323.7
Total/direct bilirubin (μmol/L)
[<  24/< 5.1]
17.1/−
63.3/17.1
20.5/5.1
205.3/85.5
Haptoglobin (mg/L)
[300–2000]
<  1
140
Undetectable
<  100
<  100
Coombs test
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Serum B12 (pmol/L)
[145–569]
<  36.9
28
Undetectable
352.7
Undetectable
Methylmalonic acid level (μmol/l)
[0–0.4]
Not performed
0.753
Not performed
25,417
Not performed
Neurological symptoms
None
Present
Present
None
None
TPE
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
F female, LDH lactate dehydrogenase, M male, MCV mean corpuscular volume, TPE therapeutic plasma exchange, WBC white blood cells
The absence of macrocytosis further complicated the diagnosis because it is a common feature of vitamin B12 deficiency. However, there are two other cases of pseudothrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in the literature that reported mean corpuscular volume in normal range [14, 15]. This could possibly be explained by the presence of abundant schistocytes as the small size of schistocytes decreases the mean corpuscular volume and increases the red cell distribution width. Another plausible hypothesis that has been considered, after having excluded an iron deficiency, was an underlying microcytic hemoglobinopathy, since our patient comes from North Africa where this is endemic. Unfortunately, this could not be confirmed due to lack of a complete blood count prior to the admission and at follow-up to obtain an Hb electrophoresis (Table 1). Of interest, LDH levels were lower than expected from similar cases in the literature [11], resembling more what is observed in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
In conclusion, this was a challenging case of pseudothrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura caused by vitamin B12 deficiency because the presentation with renal failure and the lack of macrocytosis and LDH elevation mimicked a genuine thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Inadequate bone marrow response to hemolysis coupled with low white blood cell count together with prompt improvement of renal function with hydration and transfusion led us to avoid therapeutic plasma exchange. The detection of low levels of vitamin B12 and rapid restitutio ad integrum with its replacement finally supported the diagnosis. Awareness of clinicians toward this differential diagnosis might spare patients from unnecessary therapeutic plasma exchange that is burdened by a mortality rate of 2.3% and a major complications rate of 24% [16].

Availability of data and materials

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as, given the nature of case report, no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

Authors’ information

JV is internal medicine resident at San Gerardo University Hospital, Monza, Italy and University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy. Her clinical and research interests are focused on hematology and ultrasound imaging, and she has already published an internal medicine case report (Vanoli et al., Medicine 2017). GG is full professor of Internal Medicine at University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy, and hypertension world expert. MB is assistant professor of Internal Medicine at University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.
Approval by ethic committee was not necessary because diagnostic procedures and treatments have been performed according to standard clinical care. The patient signed institutional informed consent for receiving treatments.
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://​creativecommons.​org/​licenses/​by/​4.​0/​), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://​creativecommons.​org/​publicdomain/​zero/​1.​0/​) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Unsere Produktempfehlungen

e.Med Interdisziplinär

Kombi-Abonnement

Für Ihren Erfolg in Klinik und Praxis - Die beste Hilfe in Ihrem Arbeitsalltag

Mit e.Med Interdisziplinär erhalten Sie Zugang zu allen CME-Fortbildungen und Fachzeitschriften auf SpringerMedizin.de.

© Springer Medizin

Bis 11. April 2024 bestellen und im ersten Jahr 50 % sparen!

e.Med Allgemeinmedizin

Kombi-Abonnement

Mit e.Med Allgemeinmedizin erhalten Sie Zugang zu allen CME-Fortbildungen und Premium-Inhalten der allgemeinmedizinischen Zeitschriften, inklusive einer gedruckten Allgemeinmedizin-Zeitschrift Ihrer Wahl.

© Springer Medizin

Bis 11. April 2024 bestellen und im ersten Jahr 50 % sparen!

Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat Yousaf F, Spinowitz B, Charytan C, Galler M. Pernicious Anemia associated cobalamin deficiency and thrombotic Microangiopathy: case report and review of the literature. Case Rep Med. 2017;2017:9410727.CrossRef Yousaf F, Spinowitz B, Charytan C, Galler M. Pernicious Anemia associated cobalamin deficiency and thrombotic Microangiopathy: case report and review of the literature. Case Rep Med. 2017;2017:9410727.CrossRef
3.
Zurück zum Zitat Malek A, Nasnas R. An unusual presentation of Pseudothrombotic Microangiopathy in a patient with autoimmune atrophic gastritis. Case Rep Hematol. 2016;2016:1087831.PubMedPubMedCentral Malek A, Nasnas R. An unusual presentation of Pseudothrombotic Microangiopathy in a patient with autoimmune atrophic gastritis. Case Rep Hematol. 2016;2016:1087831.PubMedPubMedCentral
5.
Zurück zum Zitat Andrès E, Affenberger S, Federici L, Korganow AS. Pseudo-thrombotic microangiopathy related to cobalamin deficiency. Am J Med. 2006;119:e3.CrossRef Andrès E, Affenberger S, Federici L, Korganow AS. Pseudo-thrombotic microangiopathy related to cobalamin deficiency. Am J Med. 2006;119:e3.CrossRef
6.
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Nappo F, De Rosa N, Marfella R, De Lucia D, Ingrosso D, Perna AF, et al. Impairment of endothelial functions by acute hyperhomocysteinemia and reversal by antioxidant vitamins. JAMA. 1999;281:2113–8.CrossRef Nappo F, De Rosa N, Marfella R, De Lucia D, Ingrosso D, Perna AF, et al. Impairment of endothelial functions by acute hyperhomocysteinemia and reversal by antioxidant vitamins. JAMA. 1999;281:2113–8.CrossRef
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Tadakamalla AK, Talluri SK, Besur S. Pseudo-thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a rare presentation of pernicious anemia. North Am J Med Sci. 2011;3:472–4.CrossRef Tadakamalla AK, Talluri SK, Besur S. Pseudo-thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a rare presentation of pernicious anemia. North Am J Med Sci. 2011;3:472–4.CrossRef
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Ballas SK, Saidi P, Constantino M. Reduced erythrocytic deformability in megaloblastic anemia. Am J Clin Pathol. 1976;66:953–7.CrossRef Ballas SK, Saidi P, Constantino M. Reduced erythrocytic deformability in megaloblastic anemia. Am J Clin Pathol. 1976;66:953–7.CrossRef
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Aslinia F, Mazza JJ, Yale SH. Megaloblastic anemia and other causes of macrocytosis. Clin Med Res. 2006;4:236–41.CrossRef Aslinia F, Mazza JJ, Yale SH. Megaloblastic anemia and other causes of macrocytosis. Clin Med Res. 2006;4:236–41.CrossRef
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Noël N, Maigné G, Tertian G, Anguel N, Monnet X, Michot J-M, et al. Hemolysis and schistocytosis in the emergency department: consider pseudothrombotic microangiopathy related to vitamin B12 deficiency. QJM Mon J Assoc Physicians. 2013;106:1017–22.CrossRef Noël N, Maigné G, Tertian G, Anguel N, Monnet X, Michot J-M, et al. Hemolysis and schistocytosis in the emergency department: consider pseudothrombotic microangiopathy related to vitamin B12 deficiency. QJM Mon J Assoc Physicians. 2013;106:1017–22.CrossRef
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Kandel S, Budhathoki N, Pandey S, Bhattarai B, Baqui A, Pandey R, et al. Pseudo-thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura presenting as multi-organ dysfunction syndrome: a rare complication of pernicious anemia. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 2017;5:2050313X17713149.PubMedPubMedCentral Kandel S, Budhathoki N, Pandey S, Bhattarai B, Baqui A, Pandey R, et al. Pseudo-thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura presenting as multi-organ dysfunction syndrome: a rare complication of pernicious anemia. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 2017;5:2050313X17713149.PubMedPubMedCentral
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Walter K, Vaughn J, Martin D. Therapeutic dilemma in the management of a patient with the clinical picture of TTP and severe B12 deficiency. BMC Hematol. 2015;15:16.CrossRef Walter K, Vaughn J, Martin D. Therapeutic dilemma in the management of a patient with the clinical picture of TTP and severe B12 deficiency. BMC Hematol. 2015;15:16.CrossRef
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Dalsania CJ, Khemka V, Shum M, Devereux L, Lachant NA. A sheep in wolf’s clothing. Am J Med. 2008;121:107–9.CrossRef Dalsania CJ, Khemka V, Shum M, Devereux L, Lachant NA. A sheep in wolf’s clothing. Am J Med. 2008;121:107–9.CrossRef
15.
Zurück zum Zitat Garderet L, Maury E, Lagrange M, Najman A, Offenstadt G, Guidet B. Schizocytosis in pernicious anemia mimicking thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Am J Med. 2003;114:423–5.CrossRef Garderet L, Maury E, Lagrange M, Najman A, Offenstadt G, Guidet B. Schizocytosis in pernicious anemia mimicking thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Am J Med. 2003;114:423–5.CrossRef
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Som S, Deford CC, Kaiser ML, Terrell DR, Kremer Hovinga JA, Lämmle B, et al. Decreasing frequency of plasma exchange complications in patients treated for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-hemolytic uremic syndrome, 1996 to 2011. Transfusion. 2012;52:2525–32. quiz 2524CrossRef Som S, Deford CC, Kaiser ML, Terrell DR, Kremer Hovinga JA, Lämmle B, et al. Decreasing frequency of plasma exchange complications in patients treated for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-hemolytic uremic syndrome, 1996 to 2011. Transfusion. 2012;52:2525–32. quiz 2524CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
Vitamin B12 deficiency-induced pseudothrombotic microangiopathy without macrocytosis presenting with acute renal failure: a case report
verfasst von
Jennifer Vanoli
Andrea Carrer
Roberto Martorana
Guido Grassi
Michele Bombelli
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2018
Verlag
BioMed Central
Erschienen in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Ausgabe 1/2018
Elektronische ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-018-1815-8

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 1/2018

Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2018 Zur Ausgabe