Macrocytic achylic anemia; Congenital pernicious anemia; Juvenile pernicious anemia; Vitamin B-12 deficiency (malabsorption)
Symptoms
Many cells in our body need vitamin B-12, including nerve cells and blood cells. Inadequate vitamin B-12 gradually affects sensory and motor nerves, causing neurological problems to develop over time. It is important to know that the neurological effects of vitamin B-12 deficiency may be seen before anemia is diagnosed.
The anemia also affects the gastrointestinal system and the
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shortness of breath -
fatigue -
pallor -
rapid heart rate -
loss of appetite -
diarrhea -
tingling andnumbness of hands and feet - sore mouth
-
unsteady gait , especially in the dark -
tongue problems -
impaired sense of smell -
bleeding gums - positive
Babinski's reflex - loss of deep tendon reflexes
- personality changes, "megaloblastic madness"
Signs and tests
Tests that may indicate pernicious anemia include:
-
CBC results that show lowhematocrit andhemoglobin with elevated MCV (low red blood cell count with large-sized red blood cells) - CBC showing low
white blood count and lowplatelets - low
reticulocyte count -
bone marrow examination (only needed if diagnosis is unclear) -
serum LDH - below normal serum
vitamin B-12 level -
Schilling test - measurement of serum holotranscobalamin II
- measurement of methylmalonic acid (MMA)
This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:
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TIBC - peripheral smear
-
leukocyte alkaline phosphatase -
gastrin - cholesterol test
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bilirubin


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