Clinical evaluation of children referred to paediatric haematology clinics for elevated serum vitamin B12 levels
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By
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Yeşim Yiğit
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May 13, 2026
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0 min
Clinical Report: Assessment of Pediatric Patients Referred to Hematology Clinics Due to Increased Serum Vitamin B12 Concentrations
Overview
This study evaluates the clinical characteristics and referral patterns of pediatric patients with elevated serum vitamin B12 levels. Most referrals were due to incidental findings, with few cases linked to malignancies.
Background
Elevated serum vitamin B12 levels are increasingly noted in pediatric practice, often leading to referrals to hematology clinics. Understanding the clinical significance of hypercobalaminaemia in children is crucial.
Data Highlights
| Characteristic | Findings |
|---|---|
| Total Patients | 50 |
| Incidental Detection | Most cases |
| Malignancy Diagnoses | 2 (Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia) |
| Benign Conditions | Crohn’s disease, coeliac disease, type 1 diabetes, congenital factor VII deficiency |
| No Identifiable Pathology | Many patients |
Key Findings
- 50 pediatric patients were referred for elevated serum vitamin B12 levels.
- Most cases were detected incidentally during routine evaluations.
- Only 2 patients were diagnosed with malignancies, both showing additional clinical abnormalities.
- Many patients had benign or inflammatory conditions or no identifiable pathology.
- Isolated hypercobalaminaemia rarely indicates malignancy in children.
Clinical Implications
Clinicians should interpret elevated vitamin B12 levels in the context of clinical findings.
Conclusion
Isolated hypercobalaminaemia is a common reason for referrals to pediatric hematology clinics.
Related Resources & Content
- Clinical evaluation of children referred to paediatric haematology clinics for elevated serum vitamin B12 levels | BMJ Paediatrics Open, 2026 -- Assessment of Pediatric Patients Referred to Hematology Clinics Due to Increased Serum Vitamin B12 Concentrations
- Frontiers in Pediatrics — Sublingual Methylcobalamin Treatment in Infants with Prolonged Jaundice due to Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Blood Cancer Journal — Validation of a vitamin D replacement strategy in vitamin D-insufficient patients with lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Frontiers in Medicine — The linear association between vitamin B12 and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study
- Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Commonly Missed Diagnosis with Inadequate Treatment in Clinical Practice
- Clinical evaluation of children referred to paediatric haematology clinics for elevated serum vitamin B12 levels | BMJ Paediatrics Open
- Elevated serum cobalamin levels in childhood: a retrospective analysis - PubMed
- Do high vitamin B12 levels in children matter? | Archives of Disease in Childhood
- Vitamin B12 deficiency: NICE guideline summary
- Macro-B12 and Unexpectedly High Levels of Plasma B12: A Critical Review - PMC
- Interference by vitamin B12-macrocomplexes: towards an effective detection and correct interpretation of hypo- and hypervitaminemia - PubMed
- Pediatric reference intervals for serum folate and cobalamin based on a European population without
- Continuous reference intervals for holotranscobalamin, homocysteine and folate in a healthy paediatric cohort - Joel D Smith, Vasiliki Karlaftis, Stephen Hearps, Chantal Attard, Helen Savoia, Janine Campbell, Paul Monagle, , on behalf of the HAPPI Kids study team, on behalf of the HAPPI Kids study team, 2024
- The origin of vitamin B12 levels and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer specific mortality: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis - ScienceDirect
- Incidental detection of raised serum levels of vitamin B12 and its association with neoplasms
- Persistent elevation of plasma vitamin B12 is strongly associated with solid cancer - PMC
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