Cobalamin Deficiency In Children With Sickle Cell Disease: An Unanticipated Risk For Use Of Nitrous Oxide Gas

Background: The prevalence of cobalamin (B12) deficiency in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) is unknown, however B12-deficiency has been reported in 18% of SCD-adults versus 10% in patients without SCD (Kamineni 2006). A higher frequency of B12-deficiency in SCD may be due to higher rates of hemolysis, erythrocyte turnover and folate deficiency. Nitrous oxide gas is commonly used for dental procedures and is standard therapy for sickle-related vaso-occlusive-pain in France. Recently we …