Blood, 1959, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 378-385.
© 1959 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Visual Impairment due to Optic Neuropathy in Pernicious
Anemia: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature
HENRY E. HAMILTON 1,
PHILIP P. ELLIS 1, and
RAYMOND F. SHEETS 1
1 Departments of Medicine and Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, State
University of Iowa, Iowa City.
1. A man with optic nerve involvement and pernicious anemia regained
normal vision after treatment with vitamin B12.
2. In a search of the literature we found 28 cases with both pernicious
anemia and optic neuropathy. The hematologic, neurologic and ophthalmologic
findings were analyzed in these cases. In each case, the diagnosis of pernicious
anemia was established. Optic atrophy associated with pernicious anemia
may be part of the pathologic process of pernicious anemia. If the patient is
treated early with vitamin B12 or liver extract, optic nerve function returns.
Sixteen other cases with optic atrophy and possible pernicious anemia in
the literature had inadequate information to substantiate the diagnosis.
3. The use of a cobalt60-labelled vitamin B12 absorption test may be helpful
in optic nerve disorders of obscure etiology.
Submitted on June 17, 1958
Accepted on August 7, 1958
