1Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, India
2Professor, Department of Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, India
3Associate professor, Dept. of Pathology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, India
4Professor, Department of Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, India
*Corresponding author: Behera PK Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India Email: drpradip76@gmail.com
Online published on 27 October, 2015.
Pernicious anemia (PA) is characterized by Vitamin B12 deficiency which arises due to lack of intrinsic factor as a result of autoimmune destruction of gastric body mucosa and loss of gastric parietal cells. Generally it is considered as a disease of the elderly as its prevalence is 0.1% in general population and 1.9% in subjects over the age of 60 years. Pernicious anemia in age group below 30 years is less common (<4%). Clinical presentation of Pernicious anemia is insidious and varied ranging from subtle anemia to serious neurological manifestations with a future risk of developing neoplastic changes in stomach. It is considered as a "great pretender" because of its wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. But once diagnosed treatment is easy with parenteral replacement and maintenance of cobalamin.
Pernicious anemia, Atrophic gastritis, Intrinsic factor, Megaloblstic anemia, Vitamin Bn
