Hopefully the following will be of interest to newbies on the sight and give a little insight of the condition and how to treat............ bmj.com/content/383/bmj-202...
What is a patient with a lack of B12 would have pa?
Pernicious anemia (PA) is a decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B12. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.
What is the autoimmune disease associated with low B12?
Pernicious anemia is a relatively rare autoimmune disorder that causes diminishment in dietary vitamin B12 absorption, resulting in B12 deficiency and subsequent megaloblastic anemia. It affects people of all ages worldwide, particularly those over 60.
What organ is affected by B12 deficiency?
If vitamin B12 deficiency is left untreated, it can cause lasting serious side effects that affect the nervous system and brain. More severe side effects of vitamin B12 deficiency include: Peripheral neuropathy. Degeneration of the spinal cord.
Written by
Jillymo
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Here, PA is described as a rare condition, whereas, in other publications it is described as the most frequent cause of B12D. I don't believe B12D is rare, so how can PA be rare if both starements are true?
I also scratched my head at that one ! If that rare why are there 32,230 members on the forum ? I could understand it if they had quoted it's rare to find a Dr who understands the condition !
I disagree with this definition: "Pernicious anemia (PA) is a decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B12." This is what is going wrong: Intrinsic Factor (IF) is a glycoprotein produced and secreted by parietal cells that binds B12 and facilitates its transport to the terminal ileum for absorption. Anti-IF antibodies inhibit B12 from binding to IF, preventing B12/IF complex formation or binding to the B12/IF complex, preventing intestinal absorption.
The problem is that the intrinisic factor stops doing its job. The decrease in red blood cells is just a consequence of having insufficient B12 and is not the definition of PA.
Pernicious anemia is a decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B12. This picture shows large, dense, oversized, red blood cells (RBCs) that are seen in megaloblastic anemia. Megaloblastic anemia can occur when there is a deficiency of vitamin B-12.
Would agree that it's more that the low RBC count is a consequence rather than a cause - the autoimmune activity is the causal factor, which has many downstream effects.
My autoimmune activity is running riot at present - mine is more of a river than a stream ! I have just been diagnosed with yet another autoimmune condition ' polymyalgia rheumatica'.
Surely I get a gold medal what with all the conditions I have to contend with. 🥇
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B12 Deficiency and PA have exactly the same symptoms and effects
B12 Deficiency and Dry Eyes
Vitamin B12 deficiency from the perspective of a practicing hematologist
