Pernicious anemia is a serious disease caused by a lack of vitamin B12 in the body. This anemia has several names, including Addison-Birmer disease, malignant anemia, B12 deficiency anemia and megaloblastic anemia.
Symptoms of pernicious anemia
Symptoms in patients with pernicious anemia, as a rule, manifest themselves explicitly and indirectly.
Explicit symptoms of Addison-Birmer disease:
- scarlet (bright red) language, which then becomes "varnished" because of the deformation of the receptors on it;
- anemia, the presence of pathological erythrocytes;
- gastric Achilles - absence of hydrochloric acid and enzymes in the gastric juice;
- disruption of the nervous system;
- the formation of megaloblasts (unnaturally large cells) in the bone marrow instead of erythrocytes.
Indirect symptoms of the disease:
- Frequent symptoms:
- loss of vitality, weakness, drowsiness;
- pain in the mouth and tongue;
- pain in the upper and lower limbs;
- loss of appetite, weight loss.
- change gait;
- violation of urination;
- deterioration of vision ;
- sexual disorders;
- hallucinations;
- mental disorders.
Diagnosis of pernicious anemia
The most obvious manifestation of anemia is observed in the composition of the blood. In all patients, as a rule, serum has a very low level of vitamin B12. Absorption of the vitamin is very low and is possible only with additional introduction of the internal factor. In addition, urine samples are taken, since, after carrying out a comparative analysis of blood and urine composition, the diagnosis will be more accurate.
Great importance is given to the search for the root cause of the disease. The gastrointestinal tract is examined for ulcers, gastritis and other diseases that could affect the absorption of vitamin B12.
Also, for the purpose of further treatment, it is necessary to exclude certain diseases that can bring it to naught. As, for example, renal failure or pielonephritis, in which artificially introduced vitamin B12 is still not digested and the treatment has no positive changes.
Treatment of pernicious anemia
Treatment of patients is carried out by the introduction of drugs such as Cyanocobalamin or Oxycobalamin. The funds are injected. First, it is necessary to bring the level of vitamin B12 to normal, and then the number of injections decreases, and the injected drug has only a supporting effect. Patients with pernicious anemia will later have to monitor the level of the vitamin until the end of life and periodically receive prophylactic injections of the drug.
Sometimes in the management of patients, iron levels decrease. This usually occurs after 3-6 months of treatment and requires additional administration of drugs that restore its level.
With successful treatment, all the symptoms of the disease gradually disappear. The recovery period can last up to 6 months. Normalization of vitamin B12 levels can occur 35 to 80 days after the initiation of injections.
Very rarely in patients with pernicious anemia, after the course of treatment, such diseases as myxedema, stomach cancer or toxic goiter develop. The percentage of such cases does not exceed 5.
It is extremely important in the treatment to adhere to proper nutrition, which includes all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Alcohol and tobacco should be categorically excluded. No less important is the support of relatives and a positive attitude towards the patient's recovery. These factors significantly reduce the time of treatment.