Treatment of a deficiency of folic acid
Last reviewed: 19.10.2021
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The optimal result of treatment is achieved with the appointment of folic acid in a dose of 100-200 mcg per day. One tablet contains 0.3-1.0 mg of folic acid, a solution for injection - 1 mg / ml. The duration of therapy is several months, until a new population of erythrocytes is formed.
In the treatment of hereditary dihydrofolate reductase deficiency, the treatment is carried out not with folic acid, but with N-5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid.
The reverse development of symptoms of folic acid deficiency occurs fairly quickly. Within 24-48 hours after taking the drug, serum iron level is reduced (usually to low values); the level of reticulocytes rises to 2-4 days of treatment, reaching a peak at 4-7th day. Simultaneously with the increase in the number of reticulocytes, the content of leukocytes and platelets increases. Megaloblast changes in the bone marrow disappear within 24-48 hours from the start of therapy, but large myelocytes and metamyelocytes can persist for several months. Improvement of appetite and general condition of the patient is noted after 1-2 days. The level of hemoglobin is normalized at the 2-6th week of treatment.
Prevention of deficiency (deficiency) of folic acid
Prevention of folic acid deficiency is the correction of nutrition (elimination of symptoms of malabsorption and the causes of alimentary deficiency of folate). Assign the intake of folic acid preparations in a short course. For life folic acid in a dose of 1-2 mg per day is prescribed:
- with chronic hemolysis (eg thalassemia) ;:
- when the aglyadine diet is ineffective;
- with malabsorption syndrome.