Auerbach M, Al Talib K: Low-molecular weight iron dextran and iron sucrose have similar comparative safety profiles in chronic kidney disease. Kidney Int 2008;73:528.
Barzi A, Sekeres MA: Myelodysplastic syndromes: A practical approach to diagnosis and treatment. Cleve Clin J Med 2010;77:37.
Brittenham GM: Iron-chelating therapy for transfusional iron overload. N Engl J Med 2011;364:146.
Clark SF: Iron deficiency anemia: diagnosis and management. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2009;25:122.
Darshan D, Fraer DM, Anderson GJ: Molecular basis of iron-loading disorders. Expert Rev Mol Med 2010;12:e36.
Gertz MA: Current status of stem cell mobilization. Br J Haematol 2010;150:647.
Kessans MR, Gatesman ML, Kockler DR: Plerixafor: A peripheral blood stem cell mobilizer. Pharmacotherapy 2010;30:485.
McKoy JM et al: Epoetin-associated pure red cell aplasia: Past, present, and future considerations. Transfusion 2008;48:1754.
Rees DC, Williams TN, Gladwin MT: Sickle-cell disease. Lancet 2010;376:2018.
Rizzo JD et al: American Society of Clinical Oncology/American Society of Hematology clinical practice guideline update on the use of epoetin and darbepoetin in adult patients with cancer. J Clin Oncol 2010;28:4996.
Sauer J, Mason JB, Choi SW: Too much folate: A risk factor for cancer and cardiovascular disease? Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2009;12:30.
Solomon LR: Disorders of cobalamin (vitamin B12) metabolism: Emerging concepts in pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. Blood Rev 2007;21:113.
Stasi R et al: Thrombopoietic agents. Blood Rev 2010;24:179.
Wolff T et al: Folic acid supplementation for the prevention of neural tube defects: An update of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2009;150:632.
This patient’s megaloblastic anemia appears to be due to vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency secondary to inadequate dietary B12. It is important to measure serum concentrations of both folic acid and cobalamin because megaloblastic anemia can result from deficiency of either nutrient. It is especially important to diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency because this deficiency, if untreated, can lead to irreversible neurologic damage. Folate supplementation, which can com-pensate for vitamin B12–derived anemia, does not prevent B12-deficiency neurologic damage. To correct this patient’s vitamin B12 deficiency, she would probably be treated paren-terally with cobalamin because of her neurologic symptoms, followed by oral supplementation to maintain her body stores of vitamin B12.
Drugs Used in Disorders of Coagulation