A new perspective on vitamin B12 deficiency in rheumatology: a case-based review.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Case series of three patients combined with narrative review
PubMed 38294542 · doi:10.1007/s00296-024-05539-y
What was done
Method and design consisted of a case-based review presenting three cases of patients with rheumatic conditions who had symptoms of neuropathic pain, depression, fatigue, and muscle weakness, alongside a narrative overview of literature on cobalamin use in rheumatology.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, statistical comparisons, or laboratory thresholds. Qualitatively, it reports that neuropathic pain, depression, fatigue, and muscle weakness in the three cases almost completely resolved after vitamin B12 supplementation.
Why it matters
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can closely mimic rheumatic manifestations, leading to potential misattribution and delayed appropriate supplementation.
Limits
The clinical evidence is restricted to an uncontrolled case series of only three patients with no quantitative outcome metrics or standardized dosing provided in the abstract. As a narrative review with case reports, it cannot establish causal treatment efficacy or generalizability.
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- supports Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause chronic fatigue-like syndromes.