Pernicious Anemia
What Is Pernicious Anemia?
Pernicious anemia (per-NISH-us uh-NEE-me-uh) is a condition in which the body
does not make enough red blood cells due to a lack of
vitamin B12 in the body. It usually occurs in people whose bodies have lost the
ability to absorb vitamin B12 from food.
Anemia
Pernicious anemia is one of many different types of
anemia. Having anemia
means you do not have enough healthy red blood cells. When a person has anemia,
the blood cannot carry enough oxygen to the cells of the body. The most common
symptom of anemia is feeling tired.
Pernicious Anemia
In pernicious anemia, the blood cells do not divide normally and are too
large. They have trouble getting out of the bone marrow. The problem is due to a
lack of vitamin B12 in the body. Vitamin B12 is one of the B vitamins; B
vitamins are found in animal foods such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, and other
dairy products. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the body to make red blood cells.
It is also needed for the normal working of the nervous system.
People can develop low levels of this important vitamin in three main ways:
- From the lack of a protein in the stomach that helps the body absorb
vitamin B12. The protein is called intrinsic (in-TRIN-sik) factor. Intrinsic
factor is made by special cells in the lining of the stomach. In some
people, these cells are destroyed by the body's immune system or as a result
of stomach surgery. When this happens, intrinsic factor is not produced and
vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed. This is the most common cause of vitamin B12
deficiency.
- From not getting enough vitamin B12 in the diet. This can be the result
of eating a strict vegetarian diet or a poor diet due to factors such as
aging or alcoholism.
- From certain intestinal disorders that interfere with the absorption of
vitamin B12, such as Crohn's disease and intestinal infections.
The condition was named "pernicious" anemia because it was often fatal in the
years before the cause was discovered to be a lack of vitamin B12, and no
specific treatments were available. Now it is easy to treat with vitamin B12
pills or injections. Pernicious anemia can be severe if it goes on for a long
time without being treated. If it is not treated, it can cause permanent damage
to the body. Pernicious anemia is especially common in older adults.
Effects of Pernicious Anemia on the Body
People who have pernicious anemia often feel tired and weak because the body
is not getting enough oxygen. Over time, if untreated, this disease can cause
serious problems for the heart, nerves, and other parts of the body.
Heart. In people with anemia, the heart has to work harder to pump
blood to get enough oxygen to the body's organs and tissues. This stress on the
heart can cause heart murmurs (an extra or unusual sound heard during the
heartbeat), fast or irregular heartbeats, an enlarged heart, or even
heart
failure.
A lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid (folate) can cause extra problems for the
heart because it raises the level in the body of a chemical called
homocysteine
(ho-mo-SIS-teen). High levels of homocysteine add to the buildup of fatty
deposits in blood vessels, which in turn can lead to
heart attacks and
strokes.
Nerves. A lack of vitamin B12 can damage nerve cells and cause
problems such as tingling and numbness in hands and feet and problems with
walking and balance. A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause changes in taste, smell,
and vision. Finally, it can cause mental changes, including
memory loss and
confusion.
Digestive tract. A lack of vitamin B12 may change the surface of the
tongue and shrink or thin the stomach lining. Any changes that occur in the
stomach can put a person at risk for stomach cancer.
Outlook
Pernicious anemia is usually easy to treat with vitamin B12 pills or shots,
although some people develop permanent nerve damage before they find out they
have the disease and get treatment. Since pernicious anemia does increase the
risk of developing stomach cancer, doctors may do periodic cancer tests to check
for it. Overall, however, people with pernicious anemia who get proper lifelong
treatment can have a normal lifespan.
Other Names for Pernicious Anemia
- Megaloblastic anemia
- Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
- Combined systems disease
- Congenital pernicious anemia
Next: What Causes Pernicious Anemia? »
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Last Editorial Review: 12/28/2007
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