Malabsorption in Pernicious Anemia

Editorial Notes1 November 1968Malabsorption in Pernicious AnemiaMUNSEY S. WHEBY, M.D., F.A.C.P.MUNSEY S. WHEBY, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-69-5-1070 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptLack of secretion of gastric intrinsic factor with resultant inadequate absorption of vitamin B12 is the hallmark of pernicious anemia. Destruction of the gastric mucosa by an autoimmune reaction is currently receiving most attention as the cause of the gastric atrophy, although the precise mechanism is still uncertain. Whatever the mechanism, progressive atrophy of the gastric mucosa occurs with virtual loss of all gastric secretions (achylia gastrica) in addition to loss of intrinsic factor. Thus, intestinal absorption might be affected deleteriously in pernicious anemia by at least two factors:1. Digestive inadequacy owing to loss of gastric hydrochloric acid and...References1. FOROOZANTRIER PJS: Mucosa of the small intestine in pernicious anemia. New Eng. J. Med. 277: 553, 1967. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. COOKBROWNVALBERC JDGMLS: The effect of achylia gastrica on iron absorption. J. Clin. Invest. 43: 1185, 1964. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. WAXMANPRATTHERBERT SPV: Malabsorption of hemoglobin iron in pernicious anemia: correction with intrinsic factor-containing substances. J. Clin. Invest. 47: 1819, 1968. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. BEZMANKINNEARZAMCHECK ADGN: Dxylose and potassium iodide absorption and serum carotene in pernicious anemia. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 53: 226, 1959. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. SHERWOODGOLDSTEINHAURANIWIRTS WCFFICW: Studies of the small-intestinal bacterial flora and of intestinal absorption in pernicious anemia. Amer. J. Dig. Dis. 9: 416, 1964. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. BRODYESTRENHERBERT EASV: Coexistent pernicious anemia and malabsorption in four patients: including one whose malabsorption disappeared with vitamin B12 therapy. Ann. Intern. Med. 64: 1246, 1966. LinkGoogle Scholar7. HAURANISHERWOODGOLDSTEIN FIWF: Intestinal malabsorption of vitamin B12 in pernicious anemia. Metabolism 13: 1342, 1964. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. CARMELHERBERT RV: Correctable intestinal defect of vitamin B12 absorption in pernicious anemia. Ann. Intern. Med. 67: 1201, 1967. LinkGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByHypocholesterolaemia and AnaemiaSmall-Intestinal Function in Vitamin B12 DeficiencyJOHN LINDENBAUM, M.D., JOHN F. PEZZIMENTI, M.D., NANCY SHEA, B.S.Tropical Enteropathy 1 November 1968Volume 69, Issue 5Page: 1070-1071KeywordsAtrophyGastric mucosaHydrochloric acidPernicious anemia Issue Published: 1 November 1968 PDF DownloadLoading ...