Intrinsic Factor vs Parietal Cell Antibodies

[topher2018]

If a person tested positive for the intrinsic factor antibody but negative to the parietal cell antibody, would that mean that the parietal cells in the stomach are not under attack, only the intrinsic factor that those cells produce? And would that mean that the stomach might be still producing acid and intrinsic factor?

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi topher2018 not sure whether this answers your question but a paragraph from Martyn Hooper's "What you need to know about Pernicious Anaemia & Vitamin B12 Deficiency" says:

"Sadly some people with "traditional P,A." either do not produce Intrinsic Factor or if they do, they also produce an antibody which destroys it and it is then called "Autoimmune Pernicious Anaemia". In addition it can happen that we produce "Parietal cell Antibodies" and "Intrinsic Factor Antibodies" which totally wipes out any chance of absorbing the B12."

[topher2018 in reply to clivealive]

So if I am reading this correctly. Having both antibodies would “totally wipe out any chance of absorbing b12” but having just IFA might not?

[fbirder]

One of the tests has produced the wrong answer...

The GPCab test is positive in 80% of people with PA and 10% of people without PA.

The IFab test is positive in 50% of people with PA and 5% of those without PA. But it can give false positive results if there’s a lot of B12 in the blood and an older assay is used...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[topher2018 in reply to fbirder]

Thanks fbirder. Understood as to the question of whether a person has PA. But more questioning whether there could be a difference in the autoimmune mechanism that causes it.