megaloblastic anaemia

Last reviewed 01/2018

Common causes include:

  • vitamin B12 deficiency
  • folate deficiency

Rare causes include:

  • inherited:
    • orotic aciduria
    • Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
    • homocystinuria
    • methylmalonic aciduria

  • acquired:
    • myelodysplasia
    • metabolic inhibition by drugs:
      • 6-mercaptopurine
      • azathioprine
      • ganciclovir
      • aciclovir
      • fluorouracil
      • hydroxycarbamide (former British Approved Name, hydroxyurea)
      • cytosine arabinoside
      • cyclophosphamide