Pernicious anemia in patients with macrocytic anemia and low serum B12

ABSTRACT

The current research evaluated the prevalence of pernicious anemia [PA] in patients with macrocytic anemia [high MCV] and low serum B12 in Riyadh. Blood testing was done in 77 patients [males 45.5%, females 54.5%] with macrocytic anemia; 84 patients; [males 23.8%, females 76.2%] with low serum B12 and 30 healthy subjects. Complete blood count, differential count, folic acid, vitamin B12, intrinsic factor, gastric parietal cell antibodies and holotranscobalamin II were assessed. A total of five subjects from 161 patients had PA; three of these patients had macrocyticanemia [3.90%] and two patients had low serum B12 [2.38%]. Significant differences [p<0.05] in some hematological, immunological, biochemical parameters were found in subjects with macrocytic anemia and low serum B12 compared to controls. Pernicious anemia in patients with macrocytic anemia and low serum B12 was for the selected sample size can be assumed to be uncommon in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia