Pernicious Anemia Research Paper

Pernicious anemia is an abnormal condition in the blood where the blood cannot make enough red blood cells because the body does not absorb enough vitamin B-12. The cause for this type of anemia is because the body lacks a protein called intrinsic factor, which can be caused by an autoimmune response, or because of a poor diet. The intrinsic factor helps the body absorb the vitamin B-12. In pernicious anemia, the body makes antibodies that attack the cells that line the stomach and make the intrinsic factor. The cause for the autoimmune response is not known. Because the stomach was attacked by the antibodies, the stomach stops making the intrinsic factor. Once the stomach stops making it, it cannot move vitamin B-12 through the small intestine, where it's absorbed. A deficiency of the intrinsic factor can also happen if you've had part or all of your stomach surgically removed. People can also get pernicious anemia when they don’t get enough B-12 in their diets. Foods like eggs, liver, chicken, fish, dairy products, and foods with B-12 added to them are all different ways that we can get this vitamin through our diets.

Signs include neurological

He/she will obtain a medical and family history with questions about your diet and the medicines you take (if any), whether you have a family history of anemia, pernicious anemia, or autoimmune disorders, and if you’ve had any stomach or intestinal surgeries. Next, he/she may check for pale or yellow skin discoloration along with liver enlargement. Then he/she will listen to your heartbeat to see if there are any irregular heartbeats. Then they will do a blood test which is the most crucial part in diagnosing. The doctor will run a complete blood count (CBC) to determine whether anemia is present and if so then they will run other blood test to find out what kind of anemia it is, such as a reticulocyte count and other blood