megaloblastic anaemia after taking metformin for eight years. True pernicious anaemia was excluded. There was no evidence of a lesion in the distal ileum and generalised malabsorption was excluded. We presumed that the vitamin B12 malabsorption was related to the effect of metformin on active absorption in the distal ileum but we could not prove that. The anaemia was cured, and treatment with chlorpropamide, metformin, and cyanocobalamin was continued. Although vitamin B12 malabsorption is relatively common with long-term metformin treatment, we think this is the first reported case of megaloblastic anaemia. The rarity of this complication might be expected since the malabsorption is not complete and the normal body stores contain more than a year's supply of vitamin B12. We advise annual screening for megaloblastic anaemia in patients on long-term metformin treatment, as it is an easily remediable complication and does not necessitate withdrawal of the drug.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.