Funicular Myelitis

It is recommended that women of childbearing age take 400 pg/d synthetic folic acid as a supplement in order to reduce the risk of neural tube defects of the embryo when they later become pregnant (periconcep-tional folic acid supplementation) [2]. When supplementing folic acid, it should be considered that this vitamin can mask the simultaneous presence of vitamin B12 deficiency. The typical symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency, megaloblastic (= macrocytic) anemia, will be reduced by high doses of folic acid, yet the nervous system will - in the long run - be irreversibly damaged (= funicular myelitis) when vitamin B12 is not provided as well. 

Die neurological disorder associated with severe vitamin B12 deficiency is termed funicular myelitis. Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to disturbed choline-, phospholipid-, and nucleic-acid synthesis, resulting in spinal marrow damages. Disturbed myelin synthesis finally causes irreversible neurological failure. In addition, there are psychiatric disturbances (disturbed memory, apathy). 

When funicular myelitis occurs in advanced stages of vitamin B12 deficiency, patients are given 250 pg vitamin B12/d during the first 2 weeks of treatment to alleviate the symptoms and to replenish the stores. If the deficiency has been caused by disturbed vitamin B12 absoiption, lifelong monthly injections of 100 pg vitamin B12 are indicated [2]. 

Fungicidal Effect Fungistasis Funicular Myelitis Furin... 

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