antibodies

[Sissiotto]

Is it possible to have antibodies to parietal cells but not to intrinsic factor? I have no intrinsic factor.

[Suesue246]

I tested positive to parietal cell antibodies many years ago but negative to intrinsic factor antibodies at that time. Many years later I was retested for intrinsic factor antibodies and that time it came back positive.

[Sissiotto in reply to Suesue246]

Are these tests a lottery? My intrinsic factor is missing but no antibodies against this Intrincfactor. Very scary…..

[Rexz in reply to Sissiotto]

Hi Sissiotto, I understand your intrinsic factor antibodies (IFaB) is not showing up on the test but why do you say your intrinsic factor is missing?

Rexz

[Sissiotto in reply to Rexz]

Hi Rexz. Well. The blood tests showed that intrinsic factor is absent. And no antibodies against. I could suppose if you don’t produce intrinsic factor there can’t be antibodies. I have antibodies against parietal cells megaloblactic anemia. Could that be a condition from childhood on?

[Rexz]

UniKOWell I guess I was not aware of a blood test that shows the presence or absence of the Intrinsic Factor Protein. I would like to know more about this test.

I am Just aware the IFaB test. But if there is a test such as that then in very advanced stage of AMAG when all or most of parietal cells are destroyed you will have zero IF. Once this stage is reached then not only will you have no IF but also the IFaB will be greatly diminished to the point of not showing on the IFaB test. This is true with most viruses or anything that causes your immune system to create antibodies. Once that "foreign thing" is gone your immune system will eventually over time stop producing antibodies for that.

So if you actually are at a point of having no IF then it would be natural you would have no IFaB.

Hope that makes sense, Rexz

[Sissiotto in reply to Rexz]

Makes a lot of sense for my diminished brain.

[Rexz in reply to Sissiotto]

Oh dear, my brain is much diminished also! This PA does that to many of us! Thankfully if I go off the rails the members of the forum help me back on the tracks! 😂

[Sissiotto in reply to Rexz]

hi Rexz! I try to translate from French to English as I’m living in French speaking part of Switzerland.

Biermer disease,pernicious anemia. Parietal Antibodies anti cells 1/5120 and intrinsic factor missing.

thrombocytes is with Vitamin b12 deficiency.

Neuropathy of small fibers.

That’s what PA diagnosis

But also suspecting auto immune hepatopathy.

You see. My condition is a big mess. I really hope the SI will lighten up my life. Like that it’s difficult to see a future.

Thanks for your contact

[Rexz in reply to Sissiotto]

Yeah, I think the "intrinsic factor missing" is not referring to intrinsic factor protein itself but rather the Intrinsic Factor Antibodies (IFaB).

So you have positive PCaB but negative IFaB. That's not uncommon. A positive PCaB by itself is not diagnostic to PA because it is not specific to PA. BUT a positive PCaB can be diagnostic if you also have PA symptoms, low B12, megaloblastic anemia, high MMA and Homocysteine, neurological issues, peripheral neuropathy etc.. B12 injections should help mitigate all of these symptoms. Give it time though it won't happen overnight...although the megaloblastic anemia will clear up rather quickly.

If you have a chance to have a serum Gastrin test I would recommend that as high levels of Gastrin in your blood along with a positive PCaB is considered diagnostic for PA. High Gastrin is also indicative of lower stomach acid which occurs after many of the IF/acid producing Parietal Cells are destroyed.

Hope this is somewhat helpful, Rexz

[Sissiotto in reply to Rexz]

Very helpful indeed. Thanks 😊.

Tonight having a severe attack of paresthesias in feet driving up to my hips and belly and feel freezing whole body. My home is warm. Same time feet are burning. All of that makes me so nervous because can’t imagine the reason. It started so suddenly. Probably sleep could help.

[Rexz in reply to Sissiotto]

Have you been tested for hypothyroidism? The feeling of freezing and shivers sounds very familiar to me. I would be freezing in my already very warm home and no matter how many blankets I would throw on they were no help

Turned out it was Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (Hypothyroid) an autoimmune disease.

Hashimoto's is very common in those with Pernicious Anemia. It's like 40% of those with PA also have Hashimoto's.

Just a thought. Rexz

[Sissiotto in reply to Rexz]

hi Rexz. Have been tested a year ago. A bit high para thyroïde values but no hashimoto. Oh have antibodies against bile and liver : primary biliary cholangitis. I don’t drink alcohol and the liver looks good. I’m more suspecting tramadol about that coldness. I take tramadol to support my joint and mussel pains. And I think when lowering the doses I get withdrawal symptoms. I hope the results of the gastroscopy I had 2 weeks ago will give more information.

[Rexz]

By the way...having no "detectible" IFaB does not mean they are not there. The sensitivity of the IFaB test is purposely adjusted or dialed down to eliminate false positives. That's why when you have a positive IFaB it is very specific to PA.