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Pernicious anemia is a disease where not enough red blood cells are produced due to a deficiency of vitamin B 12. [5] Those affected often have a gradual onset. [ 5 ] The most common initial symptoms are feeling tired and weak. [ 4 ]
Pernicious anemia is the most common cause of vitamin B 12 deficiency anemia in adults, which results from malabsorption of vitamin B 12 due to a lack or loss of intrinsic factor. [ 2 ] [ 8 ] There are relatively few studies which have assessed the impact of haematological measures in response to B 12 supplementation.
Schilling test. The Schilling test was a medical investigation used for patients with vitamin B 12 (cobalamin) deficiency. [1] The purpose of the test was to determine how well a patient is able to absorb B12 from their intestinal tract. The test is now considered obsolete and is rarely performed, and is no longer available at many medical centers.
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin involved in metabolism. [2] It is one of eight B vitamins. It is required by animals, which use it as a cofactor in DNA synthesis, and in both fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. [3]
Anemia or anaemia (British English) is a blood disorder in which the blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen. This can be due to a lower than normal number of red blood cells, a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin available for oxygen transport, or abnormalities in hemoglobin that impair its function. [3][4]
Intrinsic factor (IF), cobalamin binding intrinsic factor, [5] also known as gastric intrinsic factor (GIF), is a glycoprotein produced by the parietal cells (in humans) or chief cells (in rodents) of the stomach. It is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B 12 later on in the distal ileum of the small intestine. [6]
Megaloblastic anemia is a type of macrocytic anemia. An anemia is a red blood cell defect that can lead to an undersupply of oxygen. [1] Megaloblastic anemia results from inhibition of DNA synthesis during red blood cell production. [2] When DNA synthesis is impaired, the cell cycle cannot progress from the G2 growth stage to the mitosis (M) stage.
The term macrocytic is from Greek words meaning "large cell". A macrocytic class of anemia is an anemia (defined as blood with an insufficient concentration of hemoglobin) in which the red blood cells (erythrocytes) are larger than their normal volume. The normal erythrocyte volume in humans is about 80 to 100 femtoliters (fL= 10 −15 L).