Megaloblastic Anaemia

Megaloblastic because the organism does not absorb enough vitamin B 12 or folic acid from the intestine. It might be in rare cases due to extremely low levels dietary habits or poor diet. The most familiar type of Megaloblastic is pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease characterized by cell depletion in gastric cordially (atrophic gastritis). Which causes the stomach loses its ability to produce hydrochloric acid and secrete a particular protein - intrinsic factor - which is necessary for efficient absorption of vitamin B 12 at the end of the small intestine.

Beyond the general symptoms of anemia, patients may have nervous system symptoms (numbness in hands and feet), burning tongue (red and smooth) and time disturbances, which become permanent if the patient does not quickly get the right treatment. In the blood, we find a strong reduction of the number of red blood cells, and relatively sizeable number of very large red blood cells.

Diagnosis is made by combined studies of blood and bone marrow sample from the stomach and measurement of the vitamin content of the blood. Pernicious anemia usually occurs in adulthood. The disease led to earlier death within a few years (pernicious means devastating). Now, the disease can be treated effectively with an injection of vitamin B 12 approx. every three months.