Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord secondary to nitrous oxide-induced B12 deficiency

  • Mohammed Shariff Stroke Medicine department, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, West Midlands, United Kingdom, and University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  • Amr Abdallah Stroke Medicine department, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, West Midlands, United Kingdom
  • Abdul Salam Stroke Medicine department, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, West Midlands, United Kingdom
  • Samaah Fathima University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12890/2023_003765

Keywords

Nitrous oxide, B12 deficiency, subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord

Abstract

A previously healthy adolescent male was admitted with paraesthesia of his arms and legs. He admitted to daily recreational nitrous oxide use for the previous 3–4 months. He was found to have severe vitamin B12 deficiency, while magnetic resonance imaging of his spine showed T2 hyperintensity within the dorsal columns. This was suggestive of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord. He was treated with intramuscular injections of hydroxocobalamin and showed moderate improvement 1 month post-discharge.

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References

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    • Published: 2023-03-18

    Issue: 2023: Vol 10 No 3 (view)

    Section: Articles

    How to cite:
    1.
    Shariff M, Abdallah A, Salam A, Fathima S. Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord secondary to nitrous oxide-induced B12 deficiency. EJCRIM 2023;10 doi:10.12890/2023_003765.