Pernicious
Anemia: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Pernicious Anemia is a health condition when the blood in
the red blood cells is found lower than the standard level. It is one of the
prevalent causes of Vitamin B-12 deficiency in the body.
The disease develops mainly because of the autoimmune
process's inability to produce a substance known as the stomach's intrinsic
factor. This particular substance is responsible for absorbing the dietary
vitamin B-12 from food in the small intestine.
Vitamin B-12 has a vital role in the production of red
blood cells and its proper functioning.
Pernicious anemia is a rare condition with a 0.1%
prevalence in the general population. It increases up to 1.9% for those above
the age of 60, a 2012 study published in the Journal of Blood Medicine revealed.
This disease can be treated with oral supplements, vitamin
B-12 injections or in combination. If left untreated, the pernicious anemia
condition can lead to severe health complications over time.
Diagnosis of
Pernicious Anemia
Your doctor may recommend taking the best online blood
test to determine the level of vitamin
B-12 in your blood. If it is low, you may have pernicious anemia, as the
vitamin B-12 levels can be affected by the interference of antibodies.
To confirm, ELISA kits are most preferred by doctors internationally. It does the
quantitative detection of vitamin B12 in the human serum or plasma. The
sensitivity of these kits is quite high, and the results are provided in less
than 24 hours.
Symptoms of
Pernicious Anemia
The progression of the condition is slow; therefore, it is
easy to become accustomed to the symptoms, which as follows:-
●
Fatigue
●
Pale
Skin
●
Chest
Pain
●
Headaches
●
Weakness
In the more severe or prolonged deficiency of the vitamin
B-12 in the body, the patient tends to experience specific neurological
symptoms, and these include:-
●
Dementia
●
Depression
●
Muscular
Weakness
●
Unsteady
Gut
●
Memory
Loss
●
Peripheral
Neuropathy
The other uncommon symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency
because of pernicious anemia include:-
●
Heartburn
●
Loss
of Appetite
●
Constipation
●
Confusion
What Are The
Causes of Pernicious Anemia?
Diet
Lacking in Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is required for the production of healthy red
blood cells, so have the following foods rich in vitamin B-12:-
●
Diary
Products
●
Shellfish
●
Diary
Products
●
Eggs
●
Nutritional
Supplements
●
Meat
Lack
of Intrinsic Factor in the Body
Our body also needs a certain kind of protein known as
intrinsic factor that absorbs vitamin B-12. This protein is produced by the
parietal cells present in our stomach.
When you take a meal rich in vitamin B-12, the intrinsic
factor absorbs vitamin B-12 from the
food in the small intestine. In some cases, our body's immune system attacks
& destroys the parietal cells. So, as these cells are destroyed, the body
cannot make IF absorb the vitamin B-12 from the diet.
Small
intestinal conditions
Any medical issues in the small intestine can lead to the
deficiency of vitamin B-12. These may include HIV, Crohn's disease, and celiac
disease.
If the ileum portion of the small intestine is surgically
removed, then the risk factors of developing vitamin B-12 deficiency becomes
high.
Some people have too much small intestine bacteria, which
causes a deficiency of vitamin B-12.
Treatment of
Pernicious Anemia
Doctors generally prescribe a proper treatment plan to
their patients, and this includes:-
●
Vitamin
B-12 injections are given to boost the levels of this vitamin type in the body.
These injections are given overtime for gradual improvement.
●
Doctors
will monitor the levels of vitamin B-12 in the body throughout therapy.
●
Make
the necessary adjustments to the dose of vitamin B-12 injections accordingly.
Vitamin B-12 can be given daily or once a week until the
average level of this vitamin is not restored.
During the first couple of weeks of treatment, your doctor
may advise you to avoid physical activities.
Once the level of vitamin B-12 normalizes, you're required
to take one shot every month to maintain it. Your doctor may recommend vitamin
B-12 supplements rather than the injections.
Conclusion
People with pernicious anemia require proper lifelong
treatment and monitoring. This will help in preventing any irreversible damage
to the body organs, causing severe complications.
Early diagnosis, proactive treatment, and close monitoring
are indispensable in living a healthy life even with pernicious anemia.
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