Megaloblastic anemia at the Mohamed VI University Hospital of Marrakech: About 132 cases

Megaloblastic anemia is a common form of anemia that may be related to a vitamin B12 or B9 deficiency. It results from an abnormality of DNA synthesis and is diagnosed on the myelogram by a cellular gigantism of the medullary erythroblasts called megaloblasts but also in all cells with rapid renewal (oral, intestinal, vaginal epithelium...). Megaloblastic anemias are predominantly found in subjects over 60 years of age, with a male predominance. The clinical signs are dominated by digestive and neurological disorders. The diagnosis of megaloblastic anemia, guided by the hemogram, is classically confirmed by vitamin assays and the myelogram, which reveals a medullary megaloblastosis. However, for some authors, the myelogram is no longer systematic when the epidemiological, anamnestic and clinical data make it possible to eliminate other causes of macrocytic anemia and to retain a vitamin deficiency. Confirmation of this deficiency is done by vitamin assays. Megaloblastic anemias are generally of deficiency origin, in which case their management is based on vitamin supplementation for curative or preventive purposes.