Medical Health Encyclopedia

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Megaloblastic anemia - view of red blood cells
Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention
Pernicious anemia
Alternative Names: 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. Text Continues Below The anemia also affects the gastrointestinal system and the cardiovascular system. The following symptoms may indicate pernicious anemia: shortness of breath fatigue pallor rapid heart rate loss of appetite diarrhea tingling and numbness 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 low hematocrit and hemoglobin with elevated MCV (low red blood cell count with large-sized red blood cells) CBC showing low white blood count and low platelets 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 measurment of methylmalonic acid (MMA) Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>