Severe pancytopenia due to acute folate deficiency despite normal folate erythrocyte level

Abstract

We report the case of an alcoholic patient with severe pancytopenia with low plasma folate level but normal erythrocyte folates and cobalamin levels. The bone marrow smear concluded to a pancytopenia due to folates and/or cobalamin deficiency. Severe pancytopenia due to acute plasma folate deficiency can be observed despite normal erythrocyte folates level which reflects the organism's folates store.