Pernicious Anemia / Pernicious Anaemia
Other Names: Pernicious Anaemia, Biermer's Anemia, Addison's Anemia,
Addison-Biermer Anemia, Macrocytic Achylic Anemia
Pernicious Anemia is a chronic autoimmune
of the intestinal tract that prevents the body from
properly absorbing Vitamin B12, the much-needed vitamin
that helps the body produce healthy red blood cells.
Because of the B12 deficiency, the patient becomes
anemic (low healthy red blood cells).
Pernicious Anemia can cause a wide variety of complications
from fatigue, to nerve damage, to neurological problems
to organ damage if not diagnosed and treated properly
and in a timely manner.
Some of the initial symptoms of Pernicious Anemia
might include fatigue, diarrhea, lack of appetite,
shortness of breath when exerted and pale skin. Pernicious
Anemia has also been associated with other Autoimmune
conditions such as Addison's Disease, Autoimmune Thyroid
Diseases, Graves Disease, Myasthenia Gravis, Diabetes
and Vitiligo.
There is no cure for Pernicious Anemia, but affective
treatment is available.
Symptoms:
Abdominal cramps
Abdominal pain
Abdominal tenderness
Bladder incontinence
Bleeding gums
Changes in personality
Constipation
Delusions
Diarrhea
Excessive gas
Excessive irritability
Fast heartbeat
Fatigue
Feeling full
Forgetfulness
Frequent gum infections
Frequent heartburn
Hallucinations
Headaches
Impotence
Jaundice
Loss of appetite
Low blood pressure
Memory loss
Nausea
Numbness or tingling in fingers
Numbness or tingling in toes
Pain in mouth
Pale appearance
Premature graying
Psychosis
Ringing in the ears
Shortness of breath
Swollen, red mouth
Unsteady balance and clumsiness Vomiting
Waxy appearance of skin
Weakened sense of smell
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is usually a process of testing and symptom
history. Blood tests may show:
Low Cholesterol
Elevated Homocysteine
Low Hemoglobin
Low Vitamin B12
Low Red Blood Cell Count
Elevated Indirect Bilirubin
Low Potassium
Low Alkaline Phosphatase
Elevated Mean Cell Volume
Elevated Macrocytes
Low Folic Acid
Low Reticulocytes
Elevated Methylmalonic Acid
Elevated Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration
Low Platelet Count
Positive Ovalocytes
A colonoscopy and/or endoscopy may also be performed
to view the tissues of the digestive tract from the
inside looking for signs of Pernicious Anemia, and
tissue samples may be taken to biopsy looking for
malabsorption signs and other signs pointing to Pernicious
Anemia.
A test called the Shilling test, which isn't as widely
used today, may still be performed to confirm a diagnosis.
Treatment:
Treatment for Pernicious Anemia requires Vitamin
B12 replacement therapy, either with oral supplements
or injections. Dietary changes may also be required
to help the body properly absorb the Vitamin B12 with
other much-needed nutrients (Iron, Folic Acid and
Vitamin C).
If the diseases is not diagnosed and treated early
on, sever complications can result and may require
additional and more aggressive treatment options,
but typically, the Vitamin B12 therapy is the main
course for treatment.
Prognosis:
With proper treatment and dietary changes, the outlook
for Pernicious Anemia is excellent. Left untreated,
sever complications such as gastric polyps, gastritis
and and increased risk of stomach cancer can result,
so early detection of Pernicious Anemia is very important
for a better prognosis.
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