Anemia, Pernicious / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

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Anemia, Pernicious

Synonyms of Anemia, Pernicious

Addison-Biermer Anemia
Addisonian Pernicious Anemia
Addison's Anemia
Primary Anemia

Disorder Subdivisions

Adult Onset Pernicious Anemia
Congenital Pernicious Anemia due to Defect of Intrinsic Factor
Enterocyte Cobalamin Malabsorption
Enterocyte Intrinsic Factor Receptor, Defect of
Gastric Intrinsic Factor, Failure of Secretion
Juvenile Intestinal Malabsorption of Vit B12

General Discussion
Pernicious anemia is a rare blood disorder characterized by the inability of the body to properly utilize vitamin B12, which is essential for the development of red blood cells. Most cases result from the lack of the gastric protein known as intrinsic factor, without which vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed.

The symptoms of pernicious anemia may include weakness, fatigue, an upset stomach, an abnormally rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), and/or chest pains. Recurring episodes of anemia (megaloblastic) and an abnormal yellow coloration of the skin (jaundice) are also common. Pernicious anemia is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, and certain people may have a genetic predisposition to this disorder.

There is a rare congenital form of pernicious anemia in which babies are born lacking the ability to produce effective intrinsic factor. There is also a juvenile form of the disease, but pernicious anemia typically does not appear before the age of 30. The onset of the disease is slow and may span decades. When the disease goes undiagnosed and untreated for a long period of time, it may lead to neurological complications. Nerve cells and blood cells need vitamin B12 to function properly.

Organizations related to Anemia, Pernicious

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe MI 48021
Phone #: 586-776-3900
800 #: 800-598-4668
e-mail: aarda@aarda.org
Home page: http://www.aarda.org/
AutoImmunity Community
None
None None None
Phone #: (91-9) -552-9057
800 #: N/A
e-mail: bandrews@autoimmunitycommunity.org
Home page: http://autoimmunitycommunity.org
Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick NJ 08723
Phone #: 732-664-9259
800 #: N/A
e-mail: autoimmunehelp@aol.com
Home page: http://www.aininc.org
European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
c/o Dr. Esther de Vries
Hertogenbosch None 5200 ME's
Phone #: +31- 73--6992965
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@esid.org
Home page: http://www.esid.org
NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
31 Center Drive MSC 2480
Bethesda MD 20892-2480
Phone #: 301-592-8573
800 #: --
e-mail: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
The Arc (a national organization on mental retardation)
1010 Wayne Ave
Silver Spring MD 20910
Phone #: 301-565-3842
800 #: 800-433-5255
e-mail: info@thearc.org
Home page: http://www.thearc.org/

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html