Neuropatía óptica por déficit de cobalamina: a propósito de un caso

Santiago Gallardo Bertuzzi; Lidia Sarotto

doi:10.70313/2718.7446.v18.n2.415

Authors

Santiago Gallardo Bertuzzi University of Buenos Aires
Lidia Sarotto University of Buenos Aires

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70313/2718.7446.v18.n2.415

Keywords:

optic neuropathy, vitamin B12, cobalamin, nutritional neuropathy

Abstract

Objective: To present a clinical case of a bilateral optic neuropathy associated with a nutritional deficit of cobalamin.

Case report: We present a 17-year-old male patient with autism spectrum, with progressive decrease of visual acuity and a nutritional deficit that determined a bilateral optic neuropathy secondary to a cobalamin deficiency. The diagnosis was made through an exhaustive interrogation that detected a nutritional deficit, accompanied by complementary, ophthalmologic and systemic studies. After determining a macrocytic anemia and vitamin B12 levels below 50 pg/ml, treatment was started with intramuscular supplementation of vitamin B complex weekly for 4 weeks, then continued orally, achieving a halt in the deterioration of the patient’s visual acuity, without improvement.

Conclusion: The differential diagnosis of nutritional optic neuropathy should be investigated by means of an exhaustive interrogation, considering the patient’s history and habits, in addition to a correct ophthalmologic examination. After diagnosis, these conditions can be controlled but not always reversed, as occurred in the present case.

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Author Biographies

Santiago Gallardo Bertuzzi, University of Buenos Aires

Universidad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Buenos, Aires, Argentina.
Lidia Sarotto , University of Buenos Aires

Universidad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Buenos, Aires, Argentina.

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