The neurologic disorders associated with pernicious anemia were well described in the literature of the late nineteenth century and the first decade of this century [1-7]. Certain limitations including uncertainty as to underlying diagnosis and problems in evaluating therapy are noted in previous studies. Since the introduction of various modern diagnostic and therapeutic measures, many reports of neurologic disorders associated with pernicious anemia involving single patients or small numbers of patients have appeared [2,8-12]. Neuromyelopathy by Vitamin B12 deficiency means all manifestations in relation to spinal cord lesions or/and peripherals nerves lesions related to Vitamin B12 deficiency. It is more common in elderly and is under diagnosed because of subtle clinical manifestations [13]. Neuromyelopathy by deficiency in Vitamin B12 is due to a deficit in an intrinsic factor or in an inability to deliver cobalamin from the food or from its carrying proteins [14-16]. Neuromyelopathy by deficiency in Vitamin B12 manifests by profound sensibility [17-19]. Involvement of large sensitive fibers increases the susceptibility to postural disorders. In Tunisia, postural disorders during spinal cord degeneration were evaluated using a stabilimeter. They reported a postural instability in frontal and sagittal plans. Given the predominance of proprioceptive ataxia, these authors already highlighted the importance of postural rehabilitation [20].
To evaluate postural disorders in neuromyelopathy by deficiency in Vitamin B12.
We have carried out a study concerning patients followed up in the service of Physical Medicine and Functional Rehabilitation of Hospital University of Fann, Dakar for neuromyelopathy by deficiency in Vitamin B12. This was a case series study. Cases were collected over a period of 14 months. Neuromyelopathy diagnosis was made upon:
• A progressive onset combined spinal cord degeneration syndrome.
• And/or a sensitive predominant neuropathy.
• Melanodermia of skin and mucosa on black skin.
• A level of Vitamin B12 inferior to 200pg/nl.
• A positive therapeutic challenge with Vitamin B12.
Therapeutic challenge with Vitamin B12 consists in intravenous or intramuscular daily injection of 1000µg of Vitamin B12 for one week. This test is positive if melanodermia and full blood count disorders improve.
Socio-demographic characteristics, results of the neurological examination, upstanding and gait disorders were recorded.
Posture was assessed• In the sitting position: Ability to maintain the sitting position without or with an aid for more than 15 seconds.
• In upstanding: Spontaneous body attitude and the ability to stand with legs open or closed, oscillations during eyes closure, destabilization by pulling and the ability to maintain unipodal support for more than 10 seconds.
• During action: Destabilization or oscillation when picking up an object on the floor, and gaze orientation during walking.
The abnormalities of full blood count, the level of Vitamin B12, the electromyography data and results of MRI were collected. Data analysis is done with Fischer method.
8 patients of which 4 women were included. They were all black Africans. The average age was 40 +/- 10.57 years. A patient had a previous acute poliomyelitis during childhood cramps. Seven patients had no contributively past medical history. Swollen extremities, sensation of disequilibrium in the course of moving were revealing signs in all the patients. Urinary disorders were present and transitory in 1 case. The physical examination has objective proprioceptive ataxia and a palmar melanodermia in all the patients. The other signs were a partial muscle weakness (5 cases), severe (1 case) a tactile hypoesthesia and painful in socks (3 cases), respiratory disorders and an asymmetric amyotrophic of inferior members (1 case). Osteotendinous reflexes were quick in 3 cases and abolished to the inferior members in 2 cases. Polyneuropathy (2 cases), myelopathy (6 cases) were neurological syndromes found. The transfer on beds was possible in 7 cases and 1 case needed help. The postural equilibrium sitting position necessitated help in 1 case. The standing position was possible legs spread in 7 cases impossible joined legs in 7 cases anteroposterior pushes, laterals, eye closures, the picking up of an object in all the patients caused a destabilization. A trunk anteflexion was found during upstanding in all the patients. Walking with aid and loss of lateral gaze was recorded in seven patients. Walking was not possible for one patient. Electroneuromyography is done in 2 cases, MRI (2 cases), dosage of Vitamin B12 (4 cases). All patients have blood account and a macrocytosis was found in 3 cases. Supplementation of Vitamin B12 is done in all patients. Two patients received a blood transfusion. Walking without aid was possible for seven patients, and in one patient, walking was possible with an aid. The support on a leg at 6 months was impossible in more than 10 seconds in all the patients. No fall was noted.
Neuromyelopathy by deficiency in Vitamin B12 concerns mainly adults. Mean age at onset is in the fifth decade in North African studies [17,19]. It is more level in Healton study [7]. The mean age of our series is lower than which reported in the literature. In North African series, posture was not assessed, but proprioceptive ataxia was constantly recorded, as well as in studies from USA [2,7,21]. In Edwards Study, the most common abnormality was diminished vibratory sensation which was found in 87.7% of cases and proprioception was diminished or absent n the toes or anklers in 59% [7]. Results of the previous studies can let presume the existence of postural disorders in these series. In a study from Tunisia, postural disorders evaluated using a stabilimiter were constantly recorded [20]. These authors found instability in the frontal plan in one patient, and in the sagittal plan in the other. However, the limited number of participants included (two) do not permit to draw any conclusion on this issue. Postural disorders in neuromyelopathy by deficiency in Vitamin B12 are certainly discrete [18] but constant. Walking under visual supervision of foots is an adaptative mechanism for proprioception and balance deficits. Thus, balance rehabilitation may be helpful in this case. Kerdoncuff et al., recommend eyes closed balance rehabilitation to reduce visual dependence [22]. The dosage of Vitamin B12, intrinsic factors and the realization of the schiller test are rarely carried out. In our current practice due to limited means [13]. In these conditions in front of a combined spinal cord degeneration syndrome or a sensitive predominant neuropathy, associated with a palmar melanodermia in a black African, a therapeutic test with high doses of Vitamin B12 is warranted. This goes to the direction of observation of Bagé et al., [23]. The treatment of neuromyelopathy by deficiency of Vitamin B12 must be introduced early because of the relationship found between severity of neurological symptoms and duration [24,25]. Neurologic disorders in patients with Cobalamin deficiency not related to overall severity of deficiency of vitamin [7]. The previous observers found that profoundly anaemia patients frequently had no neurologic signs or symptoms [25,26]. An early addition of Vitamin B12 associated with rehabilitation of postural equilibrium stand and proprioception can restore professional activities and daily living activity [23]. Interest of balance rehabilitation in spinal cord degeneration was already outlined by Abdelkafit et al., [20]. Healton study mentioned a complete resolution of all signs and symptoms [7].
Postural disorders are constant in neuromyelopathy by deficiency in Vitamin B12. They mainly affect upstanding posture, walking and pick up of objects on the floor. In neuromyelopathy by deficiency in Vitamin B12, walking is under visual control of steps. Open and close eyes balance rehabilitation are mandatory for the patient to resume his daily living activities. Eyes closed balance rehabilitation aims to reduce the visual dependence constantly observed in neuromyelopathy by Vitamin B12 deficiency.
