Synthetic data only. Never enter patient information; nothing is sent or stored. For clinicians. Not FDA cleared.

CPE-009 · synthetic case B12-FX-18

Low B12 and low folate

Both are deficient.

Synthetic · no real patientAuthored by Biod · reviewed by Dr. AmaralB12 engine v1.0.0

Purpose: Both are deficient.

Inputs the engine received

Laboratory

Serum vitamin B12
170 pg/mL
Serum folate
3.1 ng/mL
MCV
109 fL
Hemoglobin
9.4 g/dL

Patient

Age
62 years
Sex
Female
Already taking folic acid
Yes

What the engine reports

Detected clinical pattern

Pattern of Combined B12 and Folate Deficiency

Both vitamin levels are low. Look for the cause; give physician attention to the neurologic examination.

  • B12 level: B12 170 pg/mL · low

Why this pattern was identified

  • Low serum B12. 170 pg/mL is below 200 pg/mL (148 pmol/L).
  • Supportive context. macrocytosis are consistent with folate deficiency.

Recommended next steps

For physician consideration. Urgent review always comes first.

  1. 1Look for the cause: pernicious anemia, diet, drugs (metformin, acid suppression, nitrous oxide) and malabsorption.
  2. 2Check B12 together with folate, so a coexisting deficiency is not missed.
  3. 3Check B12 and folate, a reticulocyte count and a blood film; review alcohol, liver and thyroid status and drugs.
  4. 4Consider intrinsic-factor antibodies.

Differentials, pitfalls and contradicting signals

  • Macrocytosis has many causes beyond B12 and folate: alcohol, liver disease, hypothyroidism, reticulocytosis, myelodysplasia and drugs (hydroxyurea, methotrexate, zidovudine, azathioprine).
Evidence and rule trace · 4 rules

B12-01Low serum B12

Inputs: serum B12 170 pg/mL (<200)

Biochemical pattern compatible with vitamin B12 deficiency.

B12-13Low folate

Inputs: serum folate 3.1 ng/mL

Biochemical pattern compatible with folate deficiency.

B12-07Macrocytosis work-up

Inputs: MCV 109 fL

Macrocytosis work-up.

B12-08Pernicious anemia evaluation

Inputs: age 62 · anti-intrinsic factor not done

Pernicious anemia evaluation.

Evidence

  • EV-BSH-2014 · Devalia V, Hamilton MS, Molloy AM; British Committee for Standards in Haematology. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cobalamin and folate disorders. Br J Haematol. 2014;166(4):496-513.
  • EV-STABLER-2013 · Stabler SP. Vitamin B12 deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(2):149-160.
  • EV-GREEN-2017 · Green R, Allen LH, Bjørke-Monsen AL, et al. Vitamin B12 deficiency. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17040.
  • EV-WHO-FOLATE-2015 · World Health Organization. Serum and red blood cell folate concentrations for assessing folate status in populations. Geneva: WHO; 2015.

Physician adjudication required. Clinical decision support for physician review. This output identifies laboratory patterns and safety considerations. It does not diagnose, find the cause, or select a vitamin product, dose or route. Physician adjudication is required.

Change the values

The same engine, starting from this case. Change any value and watch the pattern and the rule trace react.

Serum B12 level

  1. ● Below 200 pg/mL

    Deficiency pattern

  2. ○ 200 to 300 pg/mL

    Borderline: MMA and homocysteine settle it

  3. ○ Above 300 pg/mL

    Deficiency unlikely, not excluded

Laboratory
  • <200
  • 200–300
  • >300
Patient
Sex
Neurologic features
Drugs, diet and risk groups

Live result · computed in your browser

Detected clinical pattern

Pattern of Combined B12 and Folate Deficiency

Both vitamin levels are low. Look for the cause; give physician attention to the neurologic examination.

  • B12 level: B12 170 pg/mL · low

Why this pattern was identified

  • Low serum B12. 170 pg/mL is below 200 pg/mL (148 pmol/L).
  • Supportive context. macrocytosis are consistent with folate deficiency.

Recommended next steps

For physician consideration. Urgent review always comes first.

  1. 1Look for the cause: pernicious anemia, diet, drugs (metformin, acid suppression, nitrous oxide) and malabsorption.
  2. 2Check B12 together with folate, so a coexisting deficiency is not missed.
  3. 3Check B12 and folate, a reticulocyte count and a blood film; review alcohol, liver and thyroid status and drugs.
  4. 4Consider intrinsic-factor antibodies.

Differentials, pitfalls and contradicting signals

  • Macrocytosis has many causes beyond B12 and folate: alcohol, liver disease, hypothyroidism, reticulocytosis, myelodysplasia and drugs (hydroxyurea, methotrexate, zidovudine, azathioprine).
Evidence and rule trace · 4 rules

B12-01Low serum B12

Inputs: serum B12 170 pg/mL (<200)

Biochemical pattern compatible with vitamin B12 deficiency.

B12-13Low folate

Inputs: serum folate 3.1 ng/mL

Biochemical pattern compatible with folate deficiency.

B12-07Macrocytosis work-up

Inputs: MCV 109 fL

Macrocytosis work-up.

B12-08Pernicious anemia evaluation

Inputs: age 62 · anti-intrinsic factor not done

Pernicious anemia evaluation.

Evidence

  • EV-BSH-2014 · Devalia V, Hamilton MS, Molloy AM; British Committee for Standards in Haematology. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cobalamin and folate disorders. Br J Haematol. 2014;166(4):496-513.
  • EV-STABLER-2013 · Stabler SP. Vitamin B12 deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(2):149-160.
  • EV-GREEN-2017 · Green R, Allen LH, Bjørke-Monsen AL, et al. Vitamin B12 deficiency. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17040.
  • EV-WHO-FOLATE-2015 · World Health Organization. Serum and red blood cell folate concentrations for assessing folate status in populations. Geneva: WHO; 2015.

Physician adjudication required. Clinical decision support for physician review. This output identifies laboratory patterns and safety considerations. It does not diagnose, find the cause, or select a vitamin product, dose or route. Physician adjudication is required.

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