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Vitamin B12 Deficiency Observed in Children With First Afebrile Seizures

Serkan Kirik1, Zekiye Çatak2

  • 1Pediatric Neurology, Fırat University School of Medicine, Elazig, TUR.

Cureus
|March 15, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Infantile seizures can be an early sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. Prompt vitamin B12 treatment effectively resolves seizures and prevents potential neurological damage from high homocysteine levels.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency is a known cause of neurological dysfunction.
  • Seizures, including infantile spasms, can be an initial presentation of this deficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate vitamin B12 deficiency in infants presenting with seizures.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of vitamin B12 treatment in resolving these seizures.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 26 infants with seizures and confirmed vitamin B12 deficiency.
  • Assessment included clinical presentation, homocysteine levels, electroencephalography, and neuroimaging.

Main Results:

  • 14 out of 26 patients were male, with a mean age of 8 months.
  • Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were most common (16 patients); epileptic spasms occurred in 2.
  • All patients had elevated homocysteine levels; 6 showed EEG abnormalities, and 12 had abnormal MRI findings.

Conclusions:

  • Seizures, including infantile spasms, are a significant and treatable manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency.
  • Vitamin B12 supplementation can prevent unnecessary antiepileptic drug use and diagnostic procedures.
  • Timely treatment mitigates the risk of irreversible neurological sequelae associated with hyperhomocysteinemia.
Abstract

Keywords:
homocysteineinfantileseizurevitamin b12

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