Subacute combined degeneration

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Central nervous system

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Subacute combined degeneration

Alternative Names:

Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord; SCD

Treatment:

Early treatment improves the chances of a good outcome, so the disease should be treated promptly.

Vitamin B-12 is given, usually by intramuscular injection, in large doses. Injections are often given daily for about 1 week, then weekly for about 1 month, then monthly. Vitamin B-12 injections must continue throughout life to prevent recurrence.

Expectations (prognosis):

Response to treatment depends on how long symptoms have been present before treatment. Treatment within a few weeks usually results in complete recovery. If symptoms have been present for longer than 1 or 2 months, partial recovery can be expected.

If symptoms have been present for many months, progression of symptoms may be slowed or stopped, but recovery of lost function is unlikely. Vitamin B-12 injections must be continued for life or symptoms will recur.

Untreated, the disorder results in progressive and irreversible damage to the nervous system.

Complications:

Complications can include permanent, progressive loss of nerve functions.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if abnormal sensations, muscle weakness, or other symptoms of subacute combined degeneration develop, particularly if there is a personal or family history of pernicious anemia or other risk factors. Early diagnosis and treatment improve the chance of a good outcome.

Review Date: 7/28/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, M.D., Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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