[Vitamin deficiency pancytopenia]

Eight patients with vitamin deficiency pancytopenia were admitted, within a year, in a department of internal medicine. Folic acid and vitamin B12 metabolism and the clinical and haematological symptoms are discussed. These vitamin deficiencies are frequent in underdeveloped countries and are responsible of megaloblastic anaemia. Such deficiencies may also influence the granulocyte and platelet lines and may be mistaken for leukaemia. A therapeutic test may be undertaken, giving rapid diagnosis and avoiding high mortality.