What is pernicious anemia? It is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to not be able to make enough red blood cells. A specific protein, which is referred to as the “intrinsic factor,” and vitamin B12 are required to make these needed cells. The vitamin binds with the protein when it enters the digestive tract and then the small intestine removes the bound components so that the cells can be created.
When pernicious anemia is present, the body’s immune system attacks the proteins that the B12 binds to for the cells to be made. The intrinsic factor is the only way for the vitamin to be absorbed by the body, which means there will be a deficiency that can be detected through a blood test. That’s what the pernicious anemia blood test is looking for: a vitamin B12 deficiency.
What Causes Pernicious Anemia?
Certain medications will cause a vitamin B12 deficiency. Long-term antibiotic use is known to create this issue. Certain protein pump inhibitors that are taken at high doses or on a long-term basis may also cause a B12 deficiency.
People who have been diagnosed with COPD will also have a co-existing vitamin B12 deficiency. Just being deficient in B12 doesn’t mean that pernicious anemia is also present. It simply indicates that there is a risk factor present for the development of this autoimmune disorder and that is why the blood test is necessary.
When to See a Doctor About Pernicious Anemia
When there isn’t enough B12 being absorbed, the red blood cells that the body is able to create are too large to be effective. They may be so large that they can’t even escape from the bone marrow. This reduces the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry with every circulation cycle and results in weakness and ongoing fatigue.
If you wake up feeling fatigued even after a good night of sleep, tire easily throughout the day, or feel short of breath, then these may be symptoms of pernicious anemia. The lack of oxygen may also cause the skin tone to change to a pale color, a grayish tinge, or a blue color at the extremities and around the lips. Memory loss, muscle tightness, involuntary twitching, and paresthesia may also be present.
Headaches, chest pains, and unexpected weight loss are also common symptoms that may be overlooked.
It is important to have a vitamin B12 deficiency recognized and treated as soon as possible. If it is left untreated, then severe complications can begin to develop. This includes neurological problems, chronic anemia, and an increased risk for the development of stomach cancer.
What Do My Test Results Mean?
Your body will eliminate extra B12 when it is present, so your test results will either be low or they will be normal. If your test results are normal, then this indicates that something besides pernicious anemia is causing the bothersome symptoms.
If the B12 test results are low, which may be communicated as the test results being abnormal, then this indicates that pernicious anemia may be present. Additional testing may be required to rule out other conditions that can also result in a B12 deficiency, such as peptic ulcer disease and other digestive disorders.
How To Treat Pernicious Anemia
The reason why this condition is called pernicious anemia is because in the past, this health disorder was considered untreatable. If it was diagnosed, then there was a good chance that the disease would progress and eventually be fatal. That is not the case today.
Treating pernicious anemia is rather simple. In mild cases, all that may be required is for a patient to take a vitamin B12 supplement regularly with a meal. In severe cases, a B12 shot may be required to administer the vitamin directly into the blood stream so that healthy red blood cells can be created by the bone marrow once again.
Once a diagnosis of pernicious anemia has been confirmed, then part of the treatment plan will include lifelong monitoring of vitamin B12 levels. If there are symptoms of long-term damage that are present, then monitoring for cancer development within the gastrointestinal tract is also common. It may be necessary to have regular visits to a medical provider throughout the year with frequent biopsies to eliminate the possibility of malignancy development.
Pernicious anemia can be easy to treat, especially when this autoimmune disorder is caught in its early stages. Schedule an appointment with a medical provider if you suspect a vitamin B12 deficiency so that if necessary, a treatment plan can be developed to restore your health.