Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord (Q85701)

When the clinical presentation of a myelopathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency not only affects the spinal cord, but also affects the peripheral nerves, optic nerve, and brain, it is commonly been referred to as “subacute combined degeneration”. The recognised neurological manifestations include a myelopathy with an associated neuropathy, optic neuropathy, and less frequently encephalopathy. This deficiency is usually caused by a restrictive vegetarian diet, malnutrition, malabsorption syndromes, congenital disease, gastrectomy, or other gastrointestinal tract diseases. It may be also induced by the excessive inhalation of nitrous oxide.