How do I know if I truly have pernicious anemia?

[msphillips34]

I am experiencing a myriad of strange symptoms: I have a hemoglobin level of 6 currently and am awaiting the results of a bunch of tests my doctor is doing to figure out whats going on with me (this is including a bunch of iron and blood levels amounts)..

I have about 95% of the checklist symptoms, including kinesthesia, paresthesia, extreme fatigue (I hate leaving the house for any reason and am easily irritated-I just want to be alone most of the time), an ongoing low-grade fever, extreme irritability, rapid heartbeat the sighs, the shoulder bumps, brittle nails with broken edges, insomnia (which is literally killing me and the reason I sought out the doctor in the 1st place);

I already have fibromyalgia. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for over 8 months now (with no success). Any suggestions on what tests I need to have run etc????

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Hi,

A positive diagnosis for PA is achieved by testing positive for IF antibodies, but this test is very unreliable, sadly there is no golden test realy that will say you have PA.

You do seem to have symptoms of iron def, PA is not iron def but a def in vitamin B12 needed also with iron and folate for good bloodcells say.

Perhaps read this, it may help you understand more, see:

cks.library.nhs.uk/anaemia_...

Clarification / Additional information

· Anti-intrinsic factor antibody is extremely specific for pernicious anaemia, but has a low sensitivity (50%). Around half of people with pernicious anaemia will have anti-intrinsic factor antibody [Andres et al, 2004; Longmore et al, 2007]. If anti-intrinsic factor antibody is present, pernicious anaemia is very likely, but its absence does not rule out a diagnosis of pernicious anaemia.

·

· Anti-parietal cell antibody is found in 90% of people with pernicious anaemia, but also in 3–10% of people without it [Longmore et al, 2007]. The sensitivity of anti-parietal cell antibody for pernicious anaemia is more than 90%. However, its specificity is 50%, which is much lower than that of anti-intrinsic factor antibody [Andres et al, 2004]. If anti-parietal cell antibody is not present it is unlikely that the person has pernicious anaemia, but its presence is not diagnostic as it can occur in other conditions (e.g. atrophic gastritis) and older people (16% of normal women over 60 years of age) [Carmel, 1992; Hoffbrand et al, 2006].

Its good you are having tests, it would help if you had vitamin B12 tested, other tests that can be done if serum B12 is low can be antibody tests, MMA, and Active B12, but these are seldom done on NHS.

I hope thgis helps,

Kind regards,

Marre.