Introduction. A typical manifestation of anemia is a decrease in the blood's hemoglobin content, which, in combination with the changes in the color index and other indicators of the blood, allows us to assume its nature. Deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid in patients with diabetes mellitus requires the attention of clinicians because it can be accompanied by usual clinical manifestations, but it may also disguise itself as other diseases and be pathogenetically related to them. It is extremely important to detect anemia caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid in time. Therefore, clinicians need to pay attention to the problem of comprehensive assessment of the condition of patients with diabetes mellitus and to the use of reliable diagnostic methods aimed at studying the status of vitamin B12 and folic acid.
The aim of the study was to demonstrate the peculiarities of the clinical course and the patient's own experience in the diagnosis of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anemia in a patient with diabetes mellitus.
Materials and methods. A 77-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus was under our observation; at the time of hospitalization, she complained of dizziness, general weakness, episodes of loss of consciousness, yellowing of the skin and sclera, nausea, dry mouth, discomfort in the right hypochondrium, and weight loss over the last month. To establish the diagnosis, a thorough anamnesis was collected, a complex of laboratory and instrumental studies was performed, and related specialists consulted the patient. For the diagnosis of anemia, in addition to the usual complete blood count, the content of vitamin B12 and folic acid in the blood, as well as the concentration of methylmalonic acid in the urine and the content of homocysteine in the blood were determined.
Results and discussion. During the thorough examination, hyperchromic anemia, increased blood content of vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine, and an increase in the concentration of methylmalonic acid in the urine were revealed. The patient had no damage to the nervous system, and damage to the gastrointestinal tract was manifested by gastric hyperplastic polyps. The patient's clinical diagnosis was verified, and treatment was prescribed, considering vitamin B12 and folate deficiency as well as the underlying pathology. A reticulocyte crisis was noted as a result of correct tactics. As a result of the treatment, her condition improved, and she was discharged from the hospital with a recommendation to continue treatment at home. Conclusions. A comprehensive approach, taking into account the peculiarities of the clinical course, the determination of vitamin B12, folic acid, as well as methylmalonic acid and homocysteine are decisive for the differentiation and diagnosis of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anemia in patients with diabetes mellitus.
KEYWORDS: anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, diabetes mellitus, polymorbid pathology.

УДК: 616.1/.8–018.2–002.28:616.71–018.4–008.9]–07

Introduction. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with variable clinical manifestations associated with multiple autoantibodies formation and deposition of immune complexes, and other immune processes. Despite significant advances in treatment, the disease remains disabling, in particular, due to increased bone fragility and low-energy fractures. The study of bone remodeling in patients with SLE should help to improve the therapy and quality of their treatment.

The aim of the study. To investigate the features of bone mineral density, calcium-phosphorus metabolism and bone remodeling in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Materials and methods. The study involved 123 women with SLE aged 21-51 years. The comparison group (CG) consisted of 25 women without SLE in premenopausal status of the appropriate age. The control group included 25 practically healthy women.

In order to study bone mineral density (BMD), dual-energy X-ray densitometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine was performed using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer. For the study of calcium-phosphorus metabolism (CPM), total calcium (Ca), ionized Ca, phosphorus (P) in blood and Ca, P, creatinine in daily urine, as well as parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in serum were determined. Markers of bone remodeling (osteocalcin, procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and isomerized C-terminal telopeptide (β-crosslaps) in serum were measured.

To achieve the stated goal, the first step included the determination of bone damage prevalence in patients with the diagnosed SLE; the second step was directed towards the characterization the particular bone condition in patients with SLE based on the results of BMD, CPM indices and markers of bone remodeling assessment.

Results. According to the results of DXA of the lumbar spine, 88 (71.54 %) women of the SG and only 8 (32.00 %) women of the CG had a decrease in BMD (p < 0.001). According to the mean values, the studied CPM indices of the SG patients, CG and control group wemen exposed no significant differences. Similarly, no significant differences were detected in the mean values of urinary phosphorus and in between blood PTH values in SG, CG, and control. The level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was significantly lower in SG (15.14 ± 0.80 ng/ml) than in CG (19.62 ± 0.46 ng/ ml) and control (22.38 ± 1.34 ng/ml) p < 0.05. The mean value of osteocalcin in woman with SLE was significantly lower than in CG and control (11.81 ± 0.49 ng/ml versus 18.61 ± 0.75 ng/ml and 19.28 ± 1.88, p < 0.001). No significant difference were detected in between the mean values of P1NP in SG, CG and control. The mean values of β-cross laps were significantly higher in patients with SLE (0.51 ± 0.02 ng/ml) compared to GC (0.26 ± 0.02 ng/ ml) and control (0.28 ± 0.02 ng/ml), p < 0.001.

Conclusions. Bone mineral density, calcium-phosphorus metabolism and bone remodeling in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have peculiarities as follows: a significant decrease in bone mass in 71.54 % of patients, namely 18, 70 % - grade I osteopenia, 21.14 % - grade II osteopenia, 14.63 % - grade III osteopenia; 17.07 % - osteoporosis, increased calcium excretion, vitamin D deficiency, decreased osteoblastic and enhansed osteoclastic functions.