Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord

The onset is gradual and uniform. The pathological findings of subacute combined degeneration consist of patchy losses of myelin in the dorsal and lateral columns. Patients present with weakness of the legs, arms, and trunk, and tingling and numbness that progressively worsens. Vision changes and change of mental state may also be present. Bilateral spastic paresis may develop and pressure, vibration and touch sense are diminished. A positive Babinski sign may be seen.[6] Prolonged deficiency of vitamin B₁₂ leads to irreversible nervous system damage. HIV-associated vacuolar myelopathy can present with a similar pattern of dorsal column and corticospinal tract demyelination.

It has been thought that if someone is deficient in vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid, the vitamin B₁₂ deficiency must be treated first. However, modern research has shown that folic acid will not exacerbate the symptoms of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency.[7] And that if this were the case, then the mechanism remains unclear.[8]

Administration of nitrous oxide anesthesia can precipitate subacute combined degeneration in people with subclinical vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, while chronic nitrous oxide exposure can cause it even in persons with normal B₁₂ levels. Posterior column dysfunction decreases vibratory sensation and proprioception (joint sense). Lateral corticospinal tract dysfunction produces spasticity and dorsal spinocerebellar tract dysfunction causes ataxia.

In general, the most common cause of this condition is a deficiency of vitamin B₁₂. This may be due to a dietary deficiency, malabsorption in the terminal ileum, lack of intrinsic factor secreted from gastric parietal cells, or low gastric pH inhibiting attachment of intrinsic factor to ileal receptors.[9]

Vitamin E deficiency, which is associated with malabsorption disorders such as cystic fibrosis and Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome,[10] can cause a similar presentation due to the degeneration of the dorsal columns.[4]

Serum vitamin B₁₂, methylmalonic acid, Schilling test, and a complete blood count, looking for megaloblastic anemia if there is also folic acid deficiency or macrocytic anemia. The Schilling test is no longer available in most areas.[11]

MRI-T2 images may reveal increased signal within the white matter of the spinal cord, predominantly in the posterior columns and possibly in the spinothalamic tracts.

Therapy with vitamin B₁₂ results in partial to full recovery where SACD has been caused by vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, depending on the duration and extent of neurodegeneration.