title: Hypothesis: a history of hypothyroidism or a family history of pernicious anaemia are useful in identifying masked pernicious anaemia in elderly patients with microcytic hypochromic anaemia.
abstract: Of 2200 consecutive patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit, 58 had microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Twenty of these (34%) had serum vitamin B12 below the normal range. Eleven (19%) had malabsorption of vitamin B12 in eight of whom (14%) this was due to pernicious anaemia (PA). This study re-emphasizes the need for screening for PA in patients with microcytic hypochromic anaemia, particularly those with a family history or who have recognized associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Withington Hospital, Manchester.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sitlani
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Mannakkara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000150:complications*; D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors