Disorder - Intestinal cobalamin malabsorption

Organ Systems Involved
Gastrointestinal

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Myelopathy (subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord)

Alternative Names
Imerslund-Grasbeck syndrome; Megaloblastic anaemia 1; Intestinal B12 malabsorption

Presenting Signs

Cobalamin (also known as vitamin B12) is an important vitamin that is involved in several fundamental processes within the body. These processes (or pathways) include fat and carbohydrate metabolism, DNA synthesis and myelin production (the substance that coats nerve cells). Meat is a rich source of cobalamin. Hence cobalamin deficiency most commonly results if cobalamin is being absorbed defectively rather than from a lack of cobalamin in the diet. Cobalamin is absorbed by binding to a special protein that is produced by the pancreas. The protein-vitamin complex then binds to specific receptors in the small intestine. Hereditary defects in this pathway can lead to lack of absorption of cobalamin; this results in a deficiency of the vitamin within the body.

Cats show similar signs to dogs with hereditary intestinal cobalamin malabsorption. These signs include chronic lack of appetite and failure to thrive, reduced muscle mass and lack of weight gain, fevers, depression and eventual death. Other signs seen in cats include neurological signs (including a progressive wobbly gait), non-regenerative anaemia (a decreased number of red blood cells that does not improve) and low numbers of white blood cells.

Cats at Risk

Young animals

Treatment

Medical: injection of cobalamin into the muscle results in rapid and complete resolution of clinical signs.

Contributor
Lucy Parker