Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
Can pernicious anemia/ vitamin B-12 deficiency be prevented?
The autoimmune process that causes pernicious anemia cannot be prevented.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency that is caused by conditions such as other
gastrointestinal diseases and gastrointestinal surgery is preventable only to
the extent that these causative conditions themselves are preventable.
Vitamin B-12 is derived from animal (for example, meat, fish, poultry, milk)
sources, but vitamin B-12 deficiency in vegetarians or vegans can be prevented by the use
of oral vitamin B-12 supplements. An oral dose of 100-200 micrograms (mcg) taken
weekly is sufficient. Pregnant and nursing women who are vegetarians or vegan should take a B-12
supplement and inform their doctors they are
vegetarians or vegan.
What is the prognosis for pernicious anemia/ vitamin B-12 deficiency?
If untreated, the neurological complications of pernicious anemia can be
permanent and end in death, but pernicious anemia is easily and effectively
treated by the administration of vitamin B-12. Life-long treatment is required.
People with pernicious anemia have a slightly increased risk of stomach
cancer when compared to the normal population. The incidence of stomach cancer
in people with pernicious anemia is 2-3 times higher than in the general
population of the same age.
Pernicious Anemia At A Glance
Pernicious anemia is a condition caused by too little vitamin B12 in the body. It is a form of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia.
Vitamin B12 helps the body make healthy red blood cells and helps keep
nerve cells healthy. It is found in animal foods, including meat, fish, eggs,
milk, and other dairy products.
The most common cause of pernicious anemia is the loss of stomach cells
that make intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor helps the body absorb vitamin B12
in the intestine. The loss of parietal cells may be due to destruction by the
body's own immune system.
Pernicious anemia can cause permanent damage to nerves and other organs if
it goes on for a long time without being treated. It also raises the risk for
developing stomach cancer.
Common signs and symptoms of pernicious anemia are:
Feeling tired and weak
Tingling and numbness in hands and feet
A bright red, smooth tongue
Pernicious anemia is diagnosed using family history and medical history, a
physical exam, and diagnostic tests and procedures.
Pernicious anemia is easy to treat with vitamin B12 pills or shots as well
as diet changes. Life-long treatment is needed.
Complications caused by untreated pernicious anemia may be reversible with
treatment.
Doctors don't know how to prevent pernicious anemia that is caused by the
immune system destroying stomach cells.
Eating foods high in vitamin B12 and folic acid can help prevent vitamin
B12 deficiency caused by a poor diet.
Pernicious Anemia - Symptoms At Onset Of DiseaseQuestion: The symptoms of pernicious anemia can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
Though the cause of stomach cancer is unknown, risk factors for stomach cancer include diet, H. pylori infection, smoking age, gastritis, stomach surgery, family history, and pernicious anemia. Symptoms include stomach discomfort, feeling full after a small meal, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss. Treatment depends upon staging and may involve surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Dementia is a significant loss of intellectual abilities such as memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning. There are different criteria classification schemes for dementias such as cortical, subcortical, progressive, primary, and secondary dementias. Other conditions and medication reactions can also cause dementia. Dementia is diagnosed based on a certain set of criteria. Treatment for dementia is generally focused on the symptoms of the disease.
Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin turns white due to the loss of pigment from the melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin that gives the skin color.
Thrombocytopenia refers to a decreased number of platelets in the blood. There are many causes of thrombocytopenia such as decreased platelet production (viral infections for example rubella, mumps, chickenpox, hepatitis C, and HIV); increased platelet destruction or consumption (for example sulfonamide antibiotics, heparin, blood transfusions, and lupus); or increased splenic sequestration (enlarged spleen due to conditions for example liver disease, blood cancers, and more). Treatment of thrombocytopenia depends on the cause.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Causes of gastritis include drinking too much alcohol, medications such as NSAIDs, ibuprofen, aspirin, H. pylori infection, severe infections, burns, anemia, and autoimmune disorders. Gastritis is diagnosed with endoscopy, blood tests, or stool tests. Treatment depends upon the cause of gastritis.
Birthmarks and other abnormal skin pigmentation is caused by the body's inability to produce enough melanin. Abnormal skin pigmentation can cause conditions such as vitiligo, pigmentation loss, melasma, albinism, port wine stains, macular stains and hemangioma.
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. Some of the symptoms of Graves' disease include hand tremors, rapid heartbeat, trouble sleeping, enlarged thyroid, thinning of the skin or fine brittle hair. Causes of Graves' disease are thought to be multifactorial such as genes, gender, stress, and infection. Treatment for Graves' disease is generally medication.
Iron is a mineral our bodies need. Iron deficiency is a condition resulting from not enough iron in the body. It is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause in the US. Iron deficiency is caused due to increased iron deficiency from diseases, nutritional deficiency, or blood loss and the body's inability to intake or absorb iron. Children, teen girls, pregnant women, and babies are at most risk for developing iron deficiency. Symptoms of iron deficiency include feeling weak and tired, decreased work or school performance, slow social development, difficulty maintaining body temperature, decreased immune function, and an inflamed tongue. Blood tests can confirm an iron deficiency in an individual. Treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency. Proper diet that includes recommended daily allowances of iron may prevent some cases of iron deficiency.
Enjoying a healthy diet helps to prevent diseases. A good diet also helps to control celiac disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure and maintain health by preventing loss of bone mass, muscle strength, and vitamin deficiencies.
Stiff-Person syndrome is a neurological disorder associated with features of an autoimmune disease. Signs and symptoms of Stiff-Person syndrome include a heightened sensitivity to stimuli (noise, touch, emotional distress) and fluctuating muscle rigidity of the trunk and limbs. Conditions associated with Stiff-Person syndrome include thyroiditis, vitiligo, pernicious anemia, and diabetes. Treatment for Stiff-Person syndrome is generally medication to control symptoms.
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