Spontaneous resolution of macrocytic anemia: old disease revisited

ntaneous resolution of macrocytic anemia: old disease revisited Case report (1244) Total Article Views Authors: Imashuku S, Kudo N, Kaneda S Published Date August 2012 Volume 2012:3 Pages 45 - 47 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/JBM.S34304 Received: 27 May 2012 Accepted: 04 July 2012 Published: 02 August 2012 Shinsaku Imashuku, Naoko Kudo, Shigehiro Kaneda Division of Hematology, Takasago-seibu Hospital, Takasago, Japan Abstract: We report here on a 60-year-old male with alcohol-related macrocytic anemia. He was hospitalized on three occasions with hemoglobin < 9.0 g/dL and mean corpuscular volume > 130 fL. Careful history taking and observation of his blood status led us to make a correct diagnosis. At the time of each of his admissions, only with bed rest and abstinence from alcohol did our patient dramatically show spontaneous recovery of anemia in association with a rapid decline of serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase values. It is well recognized that marrow abnormalities in alcoholic patients are reversible. Physicians should be aware that there is a subset of patients with macrocytic anemia that could be improved without medication.