title: Patient journeys: diagnosis and treatment of pernicious anaemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Instigating a patient support group for patients with pernicious anaemia (PA) revealed dissatisfaction with its current diagnosis and treatment. The authors investigated the clinical features, patient experience of diagnosis and treatment of PA in the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 889 patients registered with the PA Society support group completed an online survey or postal questionnaire. Outcome measures included clinical features, length of time to diagnosis and patient satisfaction with current treatment
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-third of patients experienced symptoms for up to 1 year before diagnosis; 14% waited more than 10 years for a diagnosis. Neurological features were highly prevalent, the most common being memory loss and poor concentration. Nearly two-thirds of respondents were dissatisfied with current treatment; 10% used a non-licensed form of B12 to supplement their prescribed injections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis and treatment of PA should be subject to a thorough review. This article discusses the patient survey and results and makes recommendations for how the diagnosis and treatment of PA may be evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Chairman, The Pernicious Anaemia Society, Bridgend.
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.affiliation: Scientific Advisor, COBALZ Limited, Chester.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.affiliation: Member/Trustee, The Pernicious Anaemia Society, Bridgend.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: Senior Honorary Research Fellow, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Wrexham Technology Park, Wrexham.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCaddon
mesh_terms: D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006113:United Kingdom; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014805:Vitamin B 12