intrinsic Factor

[smg1950]

hi my IF antibodies are 36.4 (0-6).

Is this particularly high? Do they vary with B12 treatment?

My drs who won’t treat referred me to haematologist who without seeing me is referring me to gastroenterologist .

Any comments welcome

Thank you

[jade_s]

Yes your results indicate pernicious anemia, which requires life-long B12 injections. Results will not vary with treatment, though sometimes you can get a false-positive result if the test is done just after you've had an injection, but the most modern systems do not suffer from this problem as much.

Are you receiving any injections? Have they measured B12 levels?

[smg1950 in reply to jade_s]

My active B12 done privately showed deficiency. NHS test was just within normal. Gp will not accept Active results even though NHS guidelines explain the difference . I’m seeing a haematologist privately as I just need diagnosis going forward .

[jade_s in reply to smg1950]

It's unfortunate that GPs do note accept results from accredited labs.

It sounds like you should get a diagnosis of Pernicious Anemia, and then started on loading doses - 6 injections over 2 weeks.

In the meantime you can read up more about pernicious anemia, in preparation for the appointment, so you can advocate for yourself. I would also make sure they test your levels of folate, iron, and vitamin D.

- Pernicious Anemia Society, good place to start is "What is pernicious anaemia" pernicious-anaemia-society....

- Symptoms list, from Sally Pacholok, author of "Could It Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" b12awareness.org/cobalamin-...

- "What to do next" from b12deficiency.info: b12deficiency.info/what-to-...