I was curious if anyone out knows whether elevated vitamin B12 levels have any implication on the course of multiple myeloma. I can find quite a bit of information on low B12 levels, but not elevated levels in regards to multiple myeloma.
My husband is day +36 from an autologous stem cell transplant. His counts took a little longer than expected to recover without Neupogen and he is still very sick, fatigued, nauseated, has neuropathy, and is losing weight. Although his blood counts are good at this time, they did an iron study including a B12 level and I imagine they were expecting to find a deficiency with his symptoms. This is the first time they did a B12 level, so I do not know the level pre diagnosis. The results are as follows:
B12 1925 pg/mL (193-986)
ferritin 596 ng/mL (26-388)
Iron Total 57 ug/dL (65-175)
% sat 22 (20-55)
TIBC 259 ug/dL (250-450)
In the visit with the oncologist after the results were back that day, she did not mention anything concerning these results, but to me, the high vitamin B12 level seems odd and I was wondering if anyone knows what the cause of the elevated vitamin B12 levels might be, or what their implications might be.
Hope everyone out there has a wonderful day!
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Re: Elevated vitamin B12 & multiple myeloma`
Hi mrswrench,
You raise an interesting question.
My initial reaction is to be very hesitant to draw any conclusions from a single blood test result post transplant. Blood levels and counts are generally wacky post transplant, and can take a while to settle down.
Also, you said that "this is the first time they did a B12 level", but have you checked your husband's lab results from before his transplant? Are there any records related to his B12 level? It would be really good to know if this has shown up before.
One other thought: Is your husband receiving B12, or general vitamin B, supplements? Check the medications he's received to see if B12, or something with "cobalamin", is mentioned anywhere.
If I were in your shoes, I would want to know more about the potential cause of the elevated B12 level. According to this article,
https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/105/23/1799/903901/Elevated-Plasma-Vitamin-B12-Levels-as-a-Marker-for
elevated B12 levels can be signs of potentially serious conditions, including "Solid neoplasms, myeloproliferative blood disorders, liver metastases, liver diseases and kidney failure".
Good luck, and please let us know what you find.
You raise an interesting question.
My initial reaction is to be very hesitant to draw any conclusions from a single blood test result post transplant. Blood levels and counts are generally wacky post transplant, and can take a while to settle down.
Also, you said that "this is the first time they did a B12 level", but have you checked your husband's lab results from before his transplant? Are there any records related to his B12 level? It would be really good to know if this has shown up before.
One other thought: Is your husband receiving B12, or general vitamin B, supplements? Check the medications he's received to see if B12, or something with "cobalamin", is mentioned anywhere.
If I were in your shoes, I would want to know more about the potential cause of the elevated B12 level. According to this article,
https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/105/23/1799/903901/Elevated-Plasma-Vitamin-B12-Levels-as-a-Marker-for
elevated B12 levels can be signs of potentially serious conditions, including "Solid neoplasms, myeloproliferative blood disorders, liver metastases, liver diseases and kidney failure".
Good luck, and please let us know what you find.
Re: Elevated vitamin B12 & multiple myeloma`
Cheryl,
That is probably very wise advice about not getting too worried about one result post transplant. The link you attached is a little concerning and I should not worry until additional testing and we talk to the doctor about it.
This is the first time pre- and post-diagnosis they did a B12 level. However, they did an iron study before his transplant without a B12. His ferritin was in normal range at that time. He is not on any supplements, and the only drugs he takes are his post transplant acyclovir and Bactrim (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) . We see the doctor again in a couple of days and I will try not to worry and wait to talk to her and perhaps they will retest and it will be fine.
Thanks for the advice and information. Have a great day.
That is probably very wise advice about not getting too worried about one result post transplant. The link you attached is a little concerning and I should not worry until additional testing and we talk to the doctor about it.
This is the first time pre- and post-diagnosis they did a B12 level. However, they did an iron study before his transplant without a B12. His ferritin was in normal range at that time. He is not on any supplements, and the only drugs he takes are his post transplant acyclovir and Bactrim (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) . We see the doctor again in a couple of days and I will try not to worry and wait to talk to her and perhaps they will retest and it will be fine.
Thanks for the advice and information. Have a great day.
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