Infantile tremor syndrome -- down but not out

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Nutritional Deficiencies
• Hematology

Background:

• Infantile tremor syndrome (ITS) is a neurological disorder affecting infants.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency is a potential etiological factor in ITS.
• This study investigates the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants diagnosed with ITS.

Discussion:

• A significant proportion of infants with ITS presented with low serum vitamin B12 levels.
• Macrocytosis was a common finding, suggesting impaired DNA synthesis.
• Low maternal vitamin B12 levels were also observed, indicating a potential transgenerational impact.

Key Insights:

• 50% of infants with ITS had low serum vitamin B12.
• Six infants with normal B12 levels had prior supplementation.
• Vitamin B12 supplementation alone resulted in rapid clinical improvement.

Outlook:

• Further research is warranted to establish definitive causal links between vitamin B12 deficiency and ITS.
• Screening for vitamin B12 deficiency should be considered in infants presenting with ITS symptoms.
• Early diagnosis and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency may improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in affected infants.