Pernicious Anemia
88Rare Form of Anemia
Pernicious Anemia is a little known disease that afflicts many people in the United States and around the world. In 1996 approximately 399,455 people were living with pernicious anemia. That translates to roughly 1 out of every 680 people who are living with this disease. Pernicious Anemia is routinely misdiagnosed, leaving sufferers searching for answers.
What is Pernicious Anemia?
Anemia is a blood disorder in which the blood cells are unable to get enough oxygen. The most common symptom of anemia is exhaustion or being tired. Patients with pernicious anemia are unable to absorb vitamin B12 (cobalamin) into their system from food. This results in symptoms such as tiredness, exhaustion, weakness, confusion, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, low B12 level, nausea, diarrhea, difficulty concentration, and tingling in the hands and feet.
Because pernicious anemia is so rare doctors usually find it in the search for other causes such as heart disease, neurological disorders, and other forms of anemia. Pernicious anemia is known by many other names. These are megaloblastic anemia, Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, combined systems disease, and congenital pernicious anemia.
There are three main ways of acquiring pernicious anemia.
- A protein in the stomach called intrinsic factor. This protein is made by the cells in the lining of the stomach. When this protein is not produced B12 is not absorbed by the body resulting in pernicious anemia.
Eating a vegetarian diet lacking in B12 or eating a poor diet.- Intestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease interfere with bodily absorption of B12.
People with untreated pernicious anemia for the long term may be subject to heart failure, heart attacks, strokes, stomach cancer, confusion, and memory loss. If left untreated the patient will have difficulty with activities involved in daily living and may suffer damage to the heart, nervous system, and digestive tract.
Treatment
Pernicious anemia is easily treated with regular vitamin B12 injections. Depending on B12 (cobalamin) levels when diagnosed it may be necessary to receive injections weekly to get levels back to normal then monthly. Get regular blood tests to stay on top of your B12 level.
While there is no cure for this disorder, regular injections of vitamin B12 will prevent further damage to the body systems. Sufferers will notice immediate results within hours of being injected with vitamin B12.
Getting Treatment
Because this disorder is rare many people discover their doctor to be resistant to even getting tests for B12 levels. Be persistent. You know your own body and the risks of being untreated are high. So do not allow your doctor to discount your need to know. If necessary insist on getting the blood test that will validate your concerns. Inform your doctor if you are taking para-aminosalicylic acid, colchicine, neomycin or phenytoin (also known as Dilantin), as these may affect your test results. Folic acid can also mask a B12 deficiency so be sure to inform your physician.
Be proactive about your treatment. If your doctor refuses treatment find one who will give you the treatment you need.
Get the facts about the disease.
Get help.
Pernicious Anemia
Pernicious Anemia at eMedicine
Statistics by Country for Pernicious Anemia
- You Can Say Anything With a Mask on Your Face
Internet forums are dangerous places for the uninitiated. The Religion forums are the worst. Although politics brings out the worst in people, too. Some seem to feel they can say anything when they hide behind the anonymity of the internet. Incivilit - Coughing, Post Nasal Drip, Gluten Intolerance, and Other Allergies
Whats wrong with me? My nose runs. Drainage slides down the back of my throat. I cough till my belly feels like it is turning inside out. I heave and heave and nothing comes up! What is wrong with me? If you have endured cyclical rounds of antibioti - Sarah Palin Going Rogue
Love her or hate her, Sarah Palin cannot be ignored. From the moment she was asked to become a part of the John McCain campaign for the presidency in 2008, Sarah Palin has not been out of the spotlight for a... - Exercise, Diabetes, and Counting Carbs
Understanding the basics of managing your diet when you have been diagnosed with Diabetes I or II is the first line of defense in your success in managing your disease. - Allergies and Asthma, and Post Nasal Drip
Post nasal drip is a common cause of coughing as well as other allergies and asthma. Here are suggestions to help you control your environment and cough. - Autism and Diet
Many people believe that a gluten free cassein free diet offers hope to children with autism. This is better known as a diet free from wheat and dairy products. Here is a discussion about the merits of such a diet. - Can Peanuts, Honey, and Dates Be Part of a Diabetic Diet
Nutrition planning can be confusing when juggling carbs, calories, and cholesterol on a diabetic diet. Many people believe that there are foods that must be banned from your diabetic diet. A common... - Alzheimer's A Fast Growing Disease
Alzheimer's has become the fastest growing disease in the country as the Baby Boomer population enters the golden years. During the next two years the oldest members of this group will turn age 65. At present... - Pros and Cons About Getting Swine Flu Shot
Four versions of the H1N1 vaccine have been approved by the FDA. These vaccines are expected to become available in early October. These versions are: Sanofi Pasteurs injected vaccine: Approved for...
 | Amazon Price: $3.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $8.88 List Price: $14.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $24.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $29.95 List Price: $49.95 |
CommentsLoading...
Thank you. My sister and niece are both diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia and practically have to beg for B12 shots! My 22 yr old niece was being tested for heart disease and was better in 2 hours after her first B12 injection. Nor more problems!
Your hub is very informative. I have a good friend who has Crohn's and she receives injections regularly, now I understand what type of anemia she has. Thanks for the info!
~Jen
It took ages for my diagnosis of PA and I truely believe I've suffered some long term physical damage as a result. Happy to say though at long last I managed to get my Doc to let me have regular 'monthly' B12 injections (3 months is standard in the UK) and I'm actually self injecting too. Please everyone be persistent and hopefully you'll get what you need.
I recently was diagnosed with PA. You have an error in your blog post- B12 is Cobalamin NOT Folate, in fact supplementing folate to someone with anemia due to B12 deficiency can lead to a masking of symptoms on a CBC and delayed diagnosis. Also - the name pernicious anemia technically only belongs to the autoimmune disease that destroys stomach parietal cells and intrinsic factors, the others are considered megaloblastic anemia due to B12 deficiency. The incidence of this disease from what I read at the Mayo clinic website states that 10-20 people in 100,000 will have this disease, or 1-2 out of 10,000 people (this is true pernicious anemia) the incidence of B12 deficiency anemia I believe is much higher and mostly because doctors refuse to diagnose b12 deficiency even when the symptoms are overt and follow the text book. It is much more lucrative to give us all kinds of pills and line us up for MRI's and other expensive tests before doing a simple 50$ antibody test and a serum B12 test.
Thank you for your comment Lahoma Howard. This is an older article and with changes in medical treatment it is quite possible that my information may be out of date. I will research and update. I appreciate your input.
Liz P 3 years ago
This is a really good hub, very helpful about a topic I truely belive isn't as rare as doctors would have us belive it is!