Rhesus disease - any connection to b12 deficiency?

[Vicky2822]

Hi

Just wondered if anyone was born with rhesus disease and needed a full blood transfusion at birth? (Mum rh neg, dad rh positive - mums body kills babies red blood cells so they are born severely anemic)

Just wondered If there could be a link with this to long term b12/folate deficiency in adulthood?

I’m Assuming the baby would be born without the b12 store in its liver like a healthy baby is.

I was a very sickly child, always had something. Suffered with sore tongue, puns &needles, joint and leg pain for years. Only just investigating all this now as my daughter has been diagnosed b12, folate, ferritin deficient. To my knowledge I’ve never been tested, just waiting till I’ve been off supplies for 4 Mths. Had a google on rhusus disease but there is limited follow up in adulthood apart from a link to schizophrenia and heart problems. Thanks

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society) may know something about this.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS tel no [phone] answerphone

Perhaps British Society of Haematologists might know?

b-s-h.org.uk/

"I was a very sickly child, always had something. Suffered with sore tongue, puns &needles, joint and leg pain for years. "

There are articles in PAS library about juvenile PA and stories on Martyn Hooper's blog about children with PA/B12 deficiency.

pernicious-anaemia-society.... See Page 2 of articles.

martynhooper.com/2016/08/19...

martynhooper.com/2017/07/21...

Might be worth getting copies of the B12 books below as they have case histories about children with B12 deficiency.

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society).

"Living with Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Has several case studies.

"Could it Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)

Very comprehensive with lots of case studies. There is also a paediatric version of this book "Could It Be B12? Paediatric Edition: What Every Parent Needs to Know".

I wonder if it's possible your mother was B12 deficient during pregnancy?

Pernicious Anaemia can run in families.

Having Nitrous oxide( in gas and air mix) during labour could inactivate B12 in the mother's body and may pass in blood to baby.

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/n...

A baby breast fed by a B12 deficient mum may develop B12 deficiency.

b12deficiency.info/b12-and-...

b12deficiency.info/children...

I hope you find answers.

[fbirder]

There are genetic defects in B12 or folate metabolism that can cause symptoms from infancy. I can’t find the paper I have on them (not on my laptop just now) but I’m pretty sure that Gambit62 has it filed away somewhere.

[lesley12]

Hi, very interested in your post . I was also rhesus and had blood transfusion at birth. Consultant advised I was fed almost raw liver weekly. I have PA and all the associated issues. I have often wondered if there was a link. If anyone has knowledge in this area would be very intetested.

[Vicky2822]

Seems logically as surely we wouldn’t have had the stores in our liver. I’m assuming that we therefore just use up whatever we eat and are always low.

My mum used to give me raw eggs and condensed milk fron birth. Can you imagine doing that now!! Explains my sweet tooth 😬. I also hate having blood taken must be some inner memory.

We’re you a sickly child ? It was a running joke about me and colds.