Semantics

[merpit349]

I’m just curious if there is another name for pernicious anemia? I have never actually gone anemic (much to my doctors confusion) so I feel like the term gives my friends/family the wrong idea of what’s happening

[fbirder]

There is no other generally accepted term for PA. I've been trying to push to have it renamed "Deadly Cobalamin Deficiency" but there's not been much support in the medical community

The name comes from about 170 years ago, when anaemia (literally 'lack of blood') was the most obvious symptom. Because people with this type of anaemia tended to die more than those with other anaemias it was called Pernicious Anaemia (deadly lack of blood).

Lots of doctors obviously weren't listening properly on the wednesday afternoon between lunch and tea when they learned about PA. They just heard 'anaemia', thought 'I know all about that' and switched off.

Now they believe that you cannot have PA without having macrocytic anaemia. However 30 years ago a study had shown that 36% of people with low serum B12, who responded to treatment, did not have macrocytosis. watermark.silverchair.com/8...

The underlying cause of PA is Autoimmune Metaplastic Gastric Atrophy. You could always tell people you have that if you do not want them to underestimate your condition.

[pvanderaa]

B12 deficiency

[fbirder in reply to pvanderaa]

PA is one specific cause, amongst many possible causes, of a B12 deficiency. To say that B12 deficiency is another name for PA is like saying that headache is another name for flu.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

PA is sometimes called Biermer's disease.

In some countries the term PA (Pernicious Anaemia) is used as a general term for B12 deficiency but my understanding is that PA refers specifically to an auto immune condition causing metaplastic gastric atrophy.

There may be more info on PAS website.

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)

Based in Wales, UK.

pernicious-anaemia-society....