Pernicious Anemia

Question: Pernicious anemia? I was diagnosed 12 years ago with pernicious anemia. I recently have been diagnosied with celiac disease. Since I am on a gluten free diet now can I quit taking B-12 shots?

Answer: Hi K K. Continuing with your B12 therapy may be a good idea. You may still be deficient in Intrinsic Factor (the cause of Pernicious Anemia). If you have doubts about your B12 level, your doctor can monitor your B12 status by periodically ordering tests of your Homocysteine and Methylmalonic Acid levels. Elevation of these two metabolites would indicate inadequate B12 status. Note: high oral doses of B12 (at least 1000 micrograms/day) may be adequate to maintain your B12 levels without shots. But, if you have been diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia, I would NOT rely on oral dosing without regular metabolite monitoring as noted above. Best wishes and good luck.

Question: What causes symptoms in pernicious anemia? I'm looking for information as to the biochemical reason for pernicious anemia causing symptoms such as sore tongue, difficulty swallowing and stomach pain. I know it's due to a B12 deficiency, but how does that extend to the symptoms I mentioned above? Please cite references if you know of any. I've been searching online for an hour with no luck. Thank you very much, and 10 points for the best answer.

Answer: I thought this was a result of an iron deficiency, so I looked this term up on the internet. This is what I found: People who have pernicious anemia can't absorb enough vitamin B12 from food due to a lack of intrinsic (in-TRIN-sik) factor, a protein made in the stomach. This leads to vitamin B12 deficiency. The condition is called pernicious ("deadly") anemia because it was often fatal in the past, before vitamin B12 treatments were available. Now, pernicious anemia usually is easy to treat with vitamin B12 pills or shots. With ongoing care and proper treatment, most people who have pernicious anemia can recover, feel well, and live normal lives. This article doesn't address specific symptoms, but I think you should feel fortunate that at least your symptoms helped lead you to a diagnosis and possible treatment. It also said that if left untreated it can lead to symptoms and conditions much worse that that. The inflammation in any condition is debilitating and can drain you of energy and compound or complicate any disorder. You just need a regimen to compensate for your disorder so you can mend.

Question: What natural remedies work best for pernicious anemia? Only reply if your medically educated or wise please.I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia a year ago, now I don't have medical insurance and cannot afford a doctor. I need to treat this as it is hard to deal with. I was told to take iron supplements and sublingual B-12 and I do take those but now I'm peri-menopausel and suffering from frequent bleeding. Im desperate for answers.

Answer: Hun, you probably already know all this, but I'm listing a bit of info... "Pernicious Anemia (PA) is a deficiency anemia that only involves vitamin B12 and comes from a need of "intrinsic factor". Initially, B12 supplements should be given as an injection by a qualified medical professional. When blood abnormalities are inverted, supplementation may then be given orally with vitamin B12 at 1,000 to 2000 mcg per day. People who lack intrinsic factor will normally only absorb 1% of this amount, which is enough to help with future vitamin B12 deficiencies. Some doctors will recommend continuing lifelong B12 injections, even though it may be unnecessary." http://www.nutrasanus.com/pernicious-anemia.html There ARE foods that are high in B12, so you should try and include them in your diet as often as possible, especially now that you're bleeding more frequently. Since you're already on supplements now, and if you start to include more high B12 foods, it might be enough to alleviate the problem with your periods. Foods rich in Vitamin B12 Meat: liver (best source); beef/mutton; chicken; pork/ham; fish; whole egg Dairy products: milk; cheese; yoghurt; maas Liver should always be included more often in the diet, especially with PA .... as it is an excellent source of Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, iron and other important nurtients." http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/nutrition/food6.htm I hope this helps.. and that you can start to feel a little better. *hugs*

Question: Can pernicious anemia be cause by antibiotic use? I started taking minocycline about 1 year ago, and ever since then I have been having symptoms eerily similar to those of pernicious anemia. Any answers?

Answer: Not at all. PA or pernicious anemia is the lacking of the intrinsic factor vitamin B in the stomach needed to convert the food we eat into energy. To do this it takes the intrinsic factor to take these vitamins and minerals from the food and then into the digestive tract for absorption by the intestines. These are then separated into the area's of the body where they are needed most. This should be a different type of definition then you might ordinarily find, but explains it best. Good luck and God Bless

Question: I have pernicious anemia and peripheral neuropathy. Prior to being diagnosised I volunteered to be a bone? marrow donor. I have yet to be chosen. My question is will the national bone marrow donor program disqualify me b/c of pernicious anemia? They are unable to tell me at this time.

Answer: More than likely. THere is a better list of guidlelines at www.marrow.org I want to say they will not let you bc the point of bone marrow/stem cell transplant is to rid the patient of their blood disease or other auto immune issues. Introducing a graft that has its own issues really just seems contradictorary to me. But, on a personal note, thnx for having the guts to volunteer and be typed in the first place. I had lots of ppl that wanted to be typed for me specifically, but NO ONE would sign up for the registry.

Question: Can Pernicious Anemia shorten your life? My girlfriend was recently diagnosed with Pernicious anemia. She's 27. Does it in any way effect your life span or make you more succesptable to getting cancer? She will shortly go on the shots to halt it. Any help is much appreciated, thankyou.

Answer: No, she will probably just need to have Vitamin B12 injections.

Question: Are leukemia and pernicious anemia the same thing? People in the 19th century often seemed to die of "pernicious anemia". Is it an old name for what we now know as leukemia, or is it a different disease?

Answer: Different. Pernicious anaemia is low red blood cells (anaemia) due to inability to absorb vitamin B12 (needed for blood cells) because of autoantibodies (molecules normally designed to stick to nasties like viruses, but instead made to attack normal parts of the body). Antibodies can be made against stomach cells (parietal cells) or the protein that is made by them and binds the B12 (intrinsic factor). Leukaemia is a cancer of white blood cells.

Question: Do patients with peptic ulcer disease PUD have pernicious anemia? If they have a gastric ulcer or one in the duodenum, can they have pernicious anemia due to the staomch of duodenum being destroyed somewhere ?

Answer: People with pernicious anemia can get PUD as any other normal person . PA causes Vit B12 malabsorption . PUD by itself should not cause PA.

Question: hello guys. do you know what is the relationship of intrinsic factor and pernicious anemia? why does pernicious anemia occurs when there is lack of intrinsic factor in the body.or maybe what is the relationship between intrinsic factor and pernicious anemia.

Answer: the intrinsic factor is mainly present in the stomach and it's role is to unit with vitamin B12(extrinsic factor)to prevent its digestion by stomach enzymes.to form a complex which passes to the small intestin where they leave each other and the vit B 12 is being absorbed by the small intestin. if there is a lack in intrinsic factor there will be no absorption to vit.B12 which is essantial for formation of RBC'S and their maturation leading to vit b12 deficiency anemia=pernicious anemia

Question: Question for people suffering with pernicious anemia? I am doing a project on pernicious anemia and I need to know what influence this illness can have on a family if someone is suffering from it? Please help!

Answer: In pernicious anemia, stomach cells do not secrete adequate Intrinsic Factor (IF) to transport Vit. B12 from digested red meat into your intestine blood vessels. So, the body lacks Vit. B12 and you must take shots of Vit B12 so that your red blood cells (RBCs) can be formed to carry oxygen to bodily tissues. Without Oxygen your bodily cells, you have a lack of oxidation process that is needed for energy formation. Fatigue is a common symptom. Vitamin B12 injections and sublingual (under tongue) Vitamin B12 can be used to treat. A family member may be trained to give the injections and the family may need to understand that the patient can become tired easily. Also, it is important to understand that this can be a genetic disease. Risk factors include a family history of pernicious anemia, Scandinavian or Northern European descent, and a history of autoimmune endocrine disorders.

Question: Pernicious Anemia,vitamin B12 deficiency,after starting injections how long does it take to be cured? i was diagnosed with B12 deficiency anemia and up tp now i have taken 7 shots and some symtoms are a little better,i want to know how long does it take to have all symptoms (weakness ,tingling ,pain) vanished?,does anybody has gone through this course of treatment?if so please tell me.thank you.

Answer: You will have to take B12 for the rest of your life. If you have neurologic symptoms due to B12 deficiency, the result of treatment depends on how early treatment was started in large part. Too late, and B12 will not reverse the symptoms. It depends too on whether the main cause of your symptoms is the peripheral nerve or the posterior columns of the spinal cord. A nerve heals about 1mm a day. ( rough estimate) so if you have numbness up 1 inch, figure 25 days for that inch. Most people have 'way more than that when the problem is discovered. Make sure you have been carefully checked for other causes of numbness, weakness, pain-- CIDP, and the usual suspects- Diabetes ( with a glucose tolerance) heavy metals, collagen diseases,etc. Better to be careful and sure, that to use "Post hoc" reasoning and find out a year or two down the road something else was going on.

Question: If a person with pernicious anemia was hurt (burned,slapped,ect) would they feel it? Because I heard that people with pernicious anemia have bad stimuli's or whatever they are, and they can't feel it whenever things touch 'em?

Answer: Well, I don't know if things can be narrowed down that specifically, but people with pernicious anemia commonly have neurological complications. What happens is that they lose nerve fibers and myelin in the dorsal columns (which convey sense of touch and proprioception i.e. sense of position relative to surroundings) and lateral horn (which conveys autonomic function e.g. sympathetic drive) of the spinal cord and cerebral cortex. Specifically they may show - unsteady gait - clumsiness - paresthesias - i.e. sense of numbness, prickling, or tingling - neurological symptoms worsened when in the dark Pain however, is more so conveyed by the anterolateral system which in the spinal cord is located in a different location compared to the lateral horn and dorsal columns.

Question: Can people with pernicious anemia play sports like tennis? I was just asking, because I've heard that people with pernicious anemia, well their back deteriorates....and that people in wheelchairs can play basketball....so can a person with pernicious anemia still play tennis? It doesn't matter if they're in a wheelchair/not, just please answer the question =]

Answer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernicious_anemia

Question: What causes pernicious anemia and what are the treatments for it? My blood cells are too large and the doctor doesnt say what she will do for it. I am always tired and have a problem with digestion. I have found out it is something to do with "intrensic factor" and the inability to process certain foods in the intestines. Any ideas about what I can do to treat this condition? Thank you. Marilyn

Answer: Intrinsic factor is a glycoprotein produced in the lining of the stomach that facilitates the absorption of vitamin B12. In pernicious anemia this is deficient either because of an autoimmune response against it or gastritis or inflammation of the stomach which affects the cells which makes it. The lack of the vitamin causes the anemia. Treatment is simple with intramuscular B12 shots monthly--needed for the rest of your life. This should take care of the problem.

Question: What is the confirmatory test for pernicious anemia? Some sources say it is the schilling's test but others say it is the gastric analysis test. Which one is it? Thank you!

Answer: * It seems like the Schilling test is more common Doctors diagnose vitamin deficiency anemias through blood tests that check: - The level and appearance of red blood cells. In anemia, you have fewer red blood cells. In vitamin deficiency anemias, the red blood cells that you do have are large and underdeveloped. In advanced deficiencies, white blood cells and platelets also look abnormal under a microscope. - The amount of folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin C in your blood. Folate and vitamin B-12 levels are measured at the same time, because these deficiencies often coexist. Additional tests for B-12 deficiency If blood tests reveal a vitamin deficiency, your doctor may perform other tests to determine the type and cause. Diagnosing vitamin B-12 deficiency in particular may involve more tests, such as: - Antibodies test. Your doctor may draw a sample of your blood to check for antibodies to intrinsic factor. Their presence indicates pernicious anemia. - Methylmalonic acid test. You may undergo a blood and urine test to measure the presence of a substance called methylmalonic acid. The level of this substance is higher in people with vitamin B-12 deficiency. - Schilling test. In this test, you first ingest a tiny amount of radioactive vitamin B-12. Then your blood is checked to see if your body absorbed the vitamin B-12. After that, you ingest a combination of radioactive vitamin B-12 and intrinsic factor. If the radioactive B-12 is absorbed only when taken with intrinsic factor, it confirms that you lack your own intrinsic factor. If your body doesn't absorb vitamin B-12 with or without intrinsic factor, you likely have a more general absorption problem.

Question: What are the symptoms of pernicious anemia? And what are the possible causes?

Answer: Pernicious anemia is caused by a lack of intrinsic factor, a substance needed to absorb vitamin B-12 from the gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin B-12 is necessary for the formation of red blood cells. Intrinsic factor is a protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B-12. When stomach secretions do not have enough intrinsic factor, vitamin B-12 is not absorbed well. This results in pernicious anemia and other problems related to low levels of vitamin B-12. Nerve and blood cells need vitamin B-12 to function properly, so deficiency can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, tingling sensations, difficulty walking, and diarrhea. It's easily treated with B-12 injections monthly.