Translations:Hydroxocobalamin/13/en

Injectable hydroxocobalamin

Injection of hydroxocobalamin is used to rectify the following causes of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency (list taken from the drug prescription label published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

• Dietary deficiency of vitamin B₁₂ occurring in strict vegetarians and in their breastfed infants (isolated vitamin B₁₂ deficiency is very rare)
• Malabsorption of vitamin B₁₂ resulting from damage to the stomach, where intrinsic factor is secreted, or damage to the ileum, where intrinsic factor facilitates vitamin B₁₂ absorption. These conditions include tropical sprue and nontropical sprue (celiac disease).
• Inadequate secretion of intrinsic factor, resulting from lesions that destroy the gastric mucosa (which can be caused by ingestion of corrosives, extensive tumors, and conditions associated with gastric atrophy, such as multiple sclerosis, certain endocrine disorders, iron deficiency, and subtotal gastrectomy)
• Structural lesions leading to vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, including regional ileitis, ileal reactions, and malignancies
• Competition for vitamin B₁₂ by intestinal parasites or bacteria. The tapeworm from undercooked fish (Diphyllobothrium latum) absorbs huge quantities of vitamin B₁₂, and infested patients often have associated gastric atrophy. The blind loop syndrome may produce deficiency of vitamin B₁₂ or folate.
• Inadequate use of vitamin B₁₂, which may occur if antimetabolites for the vitamin are employed in the treatment of neoplasia

Pernicious anemia is the most common cause of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. While it technically refers to anemia caused specifically by autoimmune deficiency of intrinsic factor, it is commonly used to refer to B₁₂-deficient anemia as a whole, regardless of cause.