Pronounced: Per-nish-us Ah-nee-mee-ah
Pernicious anemia develops when the body is unable to absorb the vitamin B12 it needs from food because of a lack of a protein, called intrinsic factor, produced by the stomach. Intrinsic factor is required for absorption of vitamin B12. Pernicious anemia is often associated with an autoimmune-mediated attack of parietal cells of the stomach and/or intrinsic factor. Anemia is the insufficient delivery of oxygen by red blood cells from the lungs to the cells of the body. The sooner pernicious anemia is treated, the better the outcome. If you suspect you have this condition, contact your doctor.
There are many possible causes of pernicious anemia. Some are listed below.
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
The following factors increase your chance of developing pernicious anemia:
The symptoms of pernicious anemia can vary from person-to-person. Symptoms may change or worsen over time. If you experience any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to pernicious anemia. These symptoms may be caused by other health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician. Symptoms can include:
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam.
Tests may include the following:
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
The treatment consists of injections of vitamin B12 into a muscle. These injections are necessary because the intestines cannot absorb enough vitamin B12 without an adequate supply of intrinsic factor from the stomach.
If you are elderly, your doctor may advise you to take oral B12 supplements alone or in addition to injections of vitamin B12.
Your doctor may give you a supplement of vitamin B12 that is placed in the nose.
This treatment is recommended when an iron deficiency exists. In this case, the doctor will tell you to take iron supplements before treating with vitamin B12.
RESOURCES:
Family Doctor
http://familydoctor.org/
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements
http://ods.od.nih.gov/index.aspx
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Anemia Institute
http://www.anemiainstitute.org
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php
References:
Beers MH, Porter RS, Jones TV, eds. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy . 18th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories; 2006.
Beers MH, Berkow R, eds. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy . 17th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories; 1999.
Escott-Stump, S. Nutrition and Diagnosis-Related Care . 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2002.
Kasper DL, Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL, eds. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine . 16th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc; 2005.
Mahan LK, Escott-Stump S, eds. Krause’s Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy . 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2003.
Mahan LK, Escott-Stump S, eds. Krause’s Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2000.
Morrison G, Hark L, eds. Medical Nutrition and Disease . 2nd ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science, Inc.; 1999.
Pernicious anemia. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000569.htm . Accessed October 22, 2005.
Whitney EN, Rolfes SR. Understanding Nutrition . 9th ed. Belmont, CA: West/Wadsworth; 2002.
Whitney EN, Rolfes SR. Understanding Nutrition . 8th ed. Belmont, CA: West/Wadsworth; 1999.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Igor Puzanov, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.