Positive anti-parietal, negative IF

[Pearlkins]

I was diagnosed with b12 def five months ago (115). Since then, I had loading doses of 1,000mcg weekly. and it went up to 511. Then was told once a month, but it dropped to 250. Now back to once a week. A new gastroenterologist tested me and found I have positive anti-parietal cell antibodies. IF was negative in July. I also have Hashimotos and had ITP 25 years ago, so I have a history of autoimmune. My doctor said I have PA, but is that for sure if the IF test was negative?

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Pearlkins are you in the U.S?

Sadly the IFA test is unreliable in that it gives false negatives in people with PA half the time. So a negative result doesn't mean that you don't have PA. However, a positive result is a sure-fire, 95% certain indicator of PA.

Your Hashimoto's puts you at risk of developing a B12 deficiency.

It is also important that your Folate level is monitored as this is essential to process the B12.

There is a complex interaction between folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency of one may be "masked" by excess of another so the three must always be in balance.

Symptoms of a folate deficiency can include:

symptoms related to anaemia

reduced sense of taste

diarrhoea

numbness and tingling in the feet and hands

muscle weakness

depression

Folic acid works closely with vitamin B12 in making red blood cells and helps iron function properly in the body.

I am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 45 years.

I wish you well

[Pearlkins in reply to clivealive]

Tanks for your reply. Yes, I am in the US. My folate was high in the summer but is normal now.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

It's possible to have Antibody Negative Pernicious Anaemia. See links below. I#m not sure if Antibody Negative PA is recognised in countries other than UK.

BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines

b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/gui...

Flowchart from BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

Blog post that mentions Antibody Negative Pernicious Anaemia.

martynhooper.com/2015/06/28...

Antibody Negative Pernicious Anaemia is mentioned in this book "What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper .

I am not medically trained.

[fbirder]

Yes, most definitely.

The anti-IF antibody test gives false negatives half the time, so it's quite unreliable. If you test negative it doesn't rule out PA

Anti-PC antibodies are almost always found in people with PA, but they're also found in many people without PA. So, if you test positive then PA is a possibility, but not a certainty.

I was diagnosed with PA without ever having an anti-IF test. The combination of a positive anti-PC test, low B12 and metaplastic gastric atrophy were good enough to persuade my idiot haematologist that PA was the most likely diagnosis.