Antiparietal not accurate?

[Ladycroft]

Confused about antiparietal antibody test now.. I got diagnose a few years back with a very high positive number and my ferritin was 5 so the doctor diagnosed PA. Could I not have it? I doubt I don't but I've never heard someone say they're inaccurate and now I'm confused. I get scalp pain when I go too long without injections so I usually do once or twice a week

[Ladycroft]

Sorry I can't add to my post but I can also take 600mg of hydrochloric acid without any heartburn

[JanD236]

I imagine that your diagnosis was made not just on the basis of the antibody test but also low B12 and symptoms? In which case, it doesn’t really matter whether you had B12d caused by PA or other (non dietary) reasons as treatment would be the same injections.

[Ladycroft in reply to JanD236]

They did not check my b12 because I was on a multivitamin and he was more concerned about symptoms than numbers. I was talking to him for a couple of hours every symptom I've had and for how long and he pretty much guessed PA but wanted to check ferritin since it was never checked before and the antiparietal thing. I have gotten my b12 checked before while doing the pa treatment and it was about 2000 and I know it's supposed to be high on injections so they dont bother testing it anymore. All they care about is my ferritin being so low and the things to do to improve it and said life long b12 shots to do whenever I want to

[Nackapan in reply to Ladycroft]

Sounds wise advice. I get scalp pain daily. More at the back of my head now and where my glasses arms rest . I was trying to eat strawberries with a little sugar last night and the crunch of the sugar set pains up the back of my head?? I've also had bad headaches and migrains. Interesting you mentioned scalp pain. I so.writes can't settle to sleep as my scalp so tight and aches.

My ferritin not as low as yours but dropped significantly for me so I'm trying to up my level. My hair has been falling out and I've read anything below 50! Can cause fatigue weakness in legs ect. So hope you manage to raise your levels

[Ladycroft in reply to Nackapan]

My ferritin in my knowledge has never. even above 30 and I dont have hair loss thankfully. People envy my hair because I have so dang much but its also not fun being charged more at the salon for extra tube of color hehe. I'm sorry you have those pains and injections completely stop mine... I was floating around 25 to 30 for ferritin and it recently went back down to 5 because I've been slacking stupidly

[fbirder]

Most people in the general population who are positive for the GPC antibodies don't have PA. And a B12 deficiency will not significantly affect ferritin.

[Ladycroft in reply to fbirder]

Interesting. Do you think I'm being treated for the wrong thing? That scares me. I feel better but not great. My dhea has never been above 40 and my ferritin so low.

[Nackapan in reply to fbirder]

That's odd. My ferritin leveks have halved since being b12 deficient and having treatment. I now take iron and all that does is maintain the lower level it dropped to. ?

[fbirder in reply to Nackapan]

A B12 deficiency will not cause low iron (or, hence, ferritin). But gastric atrophy (a cause of low B12) can also hinder iron absorption to give low iron (and, hence, ferritin).

[Nackapan in reply to fbirder]

Okay thanks. I've just looked it up and apart from initial weight loss haven't got any symptoms of gastric astrophy fortunately. Perhaps should discuss with g.p again (no concern from her)or get tested for H pylori? I've got bloods in July will see what then. Just odd. Never been anaemia. Hb always fine.

[Ladycroft in reply to Nackapan]

I just want to know the true test for PA

[GastritisB12 in reply to Ladycroft]

I'm not sure if there is a 100% foolproof true test. But certainly endoscopy could diagnose it depending on what stage PA is at. Because it will have certain features in the stomach because of the way anti-parietal antibodies attack parietal cells.

Also a biopsy will help give more clues towards a diagnosis. PA is a condition of the stomach.

[Ladycroft in reply to GastritisB12]

I got one and the doctor said I was perfectly healthy not a single health issue he saw and removed a few polyps from my stomach. Said nothing should be wrong and I shouldnt ever be feeling sick. That's it

[GastritisB12 in reply to Ladycroft]

that's great! always good to get a all-clear from endoscopy.

[Ladycroft in reply to GastritisB12]

It is nice but he dismissed any health problem I brought up and how anemic I am. And being too nauseous to eat a lot of the time and just this whole list he said "eh you're healthy nothing shows otherwise"

[Ladycroft in reply to Nackapan]

Do you take it completely away from food? Certain irons dont work for your body either the only one that works for me is Thorne research ferrasorb known to increase ferritin. It has to be taken away from other supplements and food and not eat anything for an hr after. I slacked on this and took it with food and other supplements and my ferritin plummeted. I am giving this one more shot before infusions to get my ferritin up with just the pills away from all food

[Nackapan in reply to Ladycroft]

Okay thanks

[Showgem in reply to Ladycroft]

I thought you needed to take vit c as in orange juice or foods high in vit c for iron to be absorbed effectively

[MEGS53 in reply to fbirder]

Hi. I'm a newbie to this site and very naïve about PA. For many years I've had high titre GPC autoantibodies, but I have high ferritin levels. My Hb has always been within range, even a bit on the high side. My GP says 'technically' I have PA and prescribes vit B12 jabs at 10 weekly intervals. Soooo, do I have PA??? Can anyone enlighten me, please.

[Ladycroft in reply to MEGS53]

Well apparantely like people said it doesnt effect ferritin even though all my doctors said it does. You could have it

[MEGS53 in reply to Ladycroft]

Thanks for your reply; much appreciated. As I said, my ferritin is very high so it's a bit confusing.

[fbirder in reply to MEGS53]

You might have PA.

Did you suffer any of the symptoms of a B12 deficiency? Were those symptoms alleviated when you started injections? Have you had a gastroscopy that showed atrophic gastritis? Have you had symptoms of atrophic gastritis (bloating, wind, diarrhoea)?

The more of those questions you can answer 'yes', the more likely it is that you have PA.

[MEGS53 in reply to fbirder]

Hi. Thank you for your very informative reply. I've not had a gastroscopy but an endoscopy showed esophagitis and a hiatus hernia (now taking omeprazole). I have sicca, but not full blown Sjogrens syndrome, and I'm currently being tested for Lupus. Interestingly, my twin sister (non-identical) tests positive for IF, but does not have GPC autoantibodies. She does not appear to have PA. Yes, I have bloating, severe wind (mainly going up!!) and diarrhoea interspersed with constipation. I have chronic debilitating fatigue and many symptoms of possible Lupus, but I'll stop there as I don't want to bore you!

Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks again.