Why is B12 high in P.Vera?

[amaprez]

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I'm reading that in Polycythemia Vera you have high B12 (>900) and high Leukocyte Alk Phos (>100). But I can't seem to find an explanation or mechanism.

Is it just that since you have absolute polycythemia you require a lot more DNA material and thus absorb a lot more B12? That's the only idea I got.

 

[amaprez]

 

[Zenfudge]

lololol

Not sure if this is a satisfying enough answer:


Vitamin B-12 levels are elevated to more than 900 pg/mL in approximately 30% of patients, and 75% of patients show an elevation in the unbound vitamin B-12 binding capacity greater than 2200 pg/mL. This is because of increased transcobalamin-III, a binding protein found in white blood cells, and it reflects the total white blood cell counts in the peripheral blood and bone marrow.


It's always that transcobalamin III...

Found here:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/205114-workup

 

[jpudge12]

Everytime I have came across that card on GT I have asked myself why this happens! Thanks for the explanation!!

 

[amaprez]

Thanks that's exactly what I was searching for!