Pernicious anaemia patients should be screened for iron deficiency during follow up.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if patients with pernicious anaemia (PA) are prone to develop iron deficiency and if there is a difference for this manifestation between younger and older age groups.


METHODS
Ninety-five patients with pernicious anaemia were evaluated for body iron status at the time of diagnosis and during follow up. Patients were also divided into two groups; younger than 60 (53 patients) and older than 60 (42 patients) years of age. Groups were compared for iron deficiency both at the time of diagnosis and at the end of follow up period.


RESULTS
Iron deficiency was a common finding in patients with pernicious anaemia. This deficiency state was more common in the elderly. During B12 therapy, iron deficiency increased in all groups, but the increased rate of iron deficiency was more prominent in the elderly patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Pernicious anaemia is an atrophic gastropathy in which gastric parietal cells no longer produce hydrochloric acid. These patients with achlorhydria demonstrate impaired absorption of iron. On the other hand, with ageing, gastric acidity is already diminished. Iron deficiency commonly accompanies patients with pernicious anaemia and this is more pronounced in the elderly group. We suggest that all patients with pernicious anaemia, especially the elderly, should be screened for iron deficiency both at the beginning and during the follow up.
Demiroğlu
H
H
Department of Haematology, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
Dündar
S
S
D000126:Achlorhydria / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007501:Iron; D014805:Vitamin B 12