[Determination of serum vitamin B12 in hematologic diseases]

By means of a test set of the Isocommerz (GDR) determinations of vitamin B12 in the serum were carried out according to the principle of the competitive protein binding. The normal values lie between 200 and 1,000 pg/ml serum. Clearly decreased levels of vitamin B12 are found in the pernicious anaemia, in other megaloblastic anaemias and in disturbances of the resorption after resection of the stomach. Increased values can be stated in the untreated chronic myelosis and in the blast episode. Under Busulphan-therapy a significant decrease of the values of vitamin B12 develops. The method seems to be practically important for the well-timed recognition of deficiency conditions of vitamin B12 in beginning pernicious anaemia, in disturbances of intestinal resorption after resection of the stomach and for the observation of the course of the chronic myelosis.