Mechanisms of vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly inpatients.

A protein-bound Schilling test incorporating chick serum was used to study 16 elderly vitamin B12-deficient inpatients. Thirteen of these also underwent standard Schilling tests. They were compared with an age-matched control group of non-deficient inpatients.

Screening of psychiatric patients for hypovitaminosis B12.

Vitamin B(12) assays and inspection of peripheral blood films performed on 1,004 consecutive new patients over the age of 50 admitted to mental hospital led to the discovery of pernicious anaemia in only two cases. It is concluded that routine vitamin B(12) assays are justified only when fully-automated techniques have become available.

Correlation of peripheral white cell and bone marrow changes with folate levels in pregnancy and their clinical significance.

Two hundred and thirty-eight ;megaloblastic' pregnancies are reviewed. Bone-marrow aspiration was performed in every case. Serum folate estimations were strongly suggestive of folic acid deficiency in only 34% of cases.