Pernicious anemia in young: A case report with review of literature

A case of juvenile addisonian pernicious anaemia

“…3 We appreciated the importance of clinical findings and history before we received our lab results to help formulate our diagnosis on the patient with a history of unknown anaemia in childhood so severe she needed multiple transfusions and with history of chronic fatigue, dark palms, pallor, premature greying of hair, stocking and glove neuropathy. 1 It was interesting to note that our patient presented with a condition that is not prevalent in her age group according to epidemiological statistics. 1 The central physiologic principles are that clinically important deficiency is more likely to occur (and progress) when intrinsic factor-driven absorption fails than when diet is poor and that most causes take years to produce clinically obvious deficiency therefore treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency due to malabsorption/ PA is parenteral hydroxocobalamin and is life long, with recurrence of symptoms on discontinuation.…”

“…Pernicious anaemia in age group below 30 years is less common (<4%). 1 It is thought to be rare in Africa, with the biggest burden of anaemia cases attributed to the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), Malaria and HIV 2 In our country Zimbabwe however, Vitamin B12 deficiency is the primary cause of megaloblastic anaemia and, contrary to textbook statements, is often due to pernicious anaemia. 3 We appreciated the importance of clinical findings and history before we received our lab results to help formulate our diagnosis on the patient with a history of unknown anaemia in childhood so severe she needed multiple transfusions and with history of chronic fatigue, dark palms, pallor, premature greying of hair, stocking and glove neuropathy.…”

A Rare Case of Autoimmune Gastritis and Pernicious Anemia Associated with Vitiligo

“…Our patient is a young (<30 years) male of Indian origin who presented with pernicious anemia due to AIG (no overlapping of H. pylori) associated with an autoimmune disorder vitiligo. The clinical presentation of PA is insidious and the commonly reported hematological manifestations include neutropenia, thrombocytopenia or pancytopenia [4]. He also presented with non-specific symptoms and had pancytopenia.…”

“…It presents as vitamin B 12 (cobalamin) deficiency, secondary to the deficiency of intrinsic factor, which is responsible for avid binding and promoting the transport of dietary cobalamin [4]. Usually pernicious anemia occurs in advanced stage of AIG.…”

“…Both AIG and pernicious anemia are viewed as a disease of elderly female and common in Northern European and African American descent but very rare in Indian population [5]. The prevalence of PA in young <30 years is 4% [4]. AIG and pernicious anemia often co-exist with other autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis and type-1 diabetes mellitus.…”