{"title":"Syncope due to vitamin-B12 deficiency - case report.","authors":"Josef Finsterer","doi":"10.25122/jml-2024-0305","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To our knowledge, a patient with recurrent syncope due to vitamin B12 deficiency without hematologic manifestations has not been reported before. We present the case of an 83-year-old man who experienced a third episode of syncope, characterized by sudden loss of consciousness without convulsions and rapid recovery. His medical history included ischemic stroke 22 years earlier and multiple bowel resections following cholecystectomy 21 years ago. The examination revealed a severe vitamin B12 deficiency and bradycardia on ECG. The examination for heart disease was inconclusive. The syncope was attributed to a vitamin B12 deficiency and consecutive cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) after other causes for the syncope were sufficiently ruled out. Syncopes did not recur after adequate vitamin B12 supplementation. This case illustrates that partial bowel resection may lead to severe vitamin B12 deficiency, which can result in CAN. Disturbed autonomic innervation of the cardiac conduction system can lead to bradycardia, which, in turn, can result in syncope. Patients with a history of complete or partial bowel resection should undergo regular monitoring of vitamin B12 levels to prevent potentially symptomatic deficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":16386,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Medicine and Life","volume":"18 5","pages":"515-516"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12207698/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Medicine and Life","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2024-0305","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
To our knowledge, a patient with recurrent syncope due to vitamin B12 deficiency without hematologic manifestations has not been reported before. We present the case of an 83-year-old man who experienced a third episode of syncope, characterized by sudden loss of consciousness without convulsions and rapid recovery. His medical history included ischemic stroke 22 years earlier and multiple bowel resections following cholecystectomy 21 years ago. The examination revealed a severe vitamin B12 deficiency and bradycardia on ECG. The examination for heart disease was inconclusive. The syncope was attributed to a vitamin B12 deficiency and consecutive cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) after other causes for the syncope were sufficiently ruled out. Syncopes did not recur after adequate vitamin B12 supplementation. This case illustrates that partial bowel resection may lead to severe vitamin B12 deficiency, which can result in CAN. Disturbed autonomic innervation of the cardiac conduction system can lead to bradycardia, which, in turn, can result in syncope. Patients with a history of complete or partial bowel resection should undergo regular monitoring of vitamin B12 levels to prevent potentially symptomatic deficiency.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Medicine and Life publishes peer-reviewed articles from various fields of medicine and life sciences, including original research, systematic reviews, special reports, case presentations, major medical breakthroughs and letters to the editor. The Journal focuses on current matters that lie at the intersection of biomedical science and clinical practice and strives to present this information to inform health care delivery and improve patient outcomes. Papers addressing topics such as neuroprotection, neurorehabilitation, neuroplasticity, and neuroregeneration are particularly encouraged, as part of the Journal''s continuous interest in neuroscience research. The Editorial Board of the Journal of Medicine and Life is open to consider manuscripts from all levels of research and areas of biological sciences, including fundamental, experimental or clinical research and matters of public health. As part of our pledge to promote an educational and community-building environment, our issues feature sections designated to informing our readers regarding exciting international congresses, teaching courses and relevant institutional-level events.