title: Pernicious anemia. From past to present.
abstract: Pernicious anemia is currently the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in Western countries. The histological lesion upon which this condition is based is autoimmune chronic atrophic gastritis. The destruction of parietal cells causes a deficiency in intrinsic factor, an essential protein for vitamin B12 absorption in the terminal ileum. Advances in the last two decades have reopened the debate on a disease that seemed to have been forgotten due to its apparent simplicity. The new role of H. pylori, the value of parietal cell antibodies and intrinsic factor antibodies, the true usefulness of serum vitamin B12 levels, the risk of adenocarcinoma and gastric carcinoids and oral vitamin B12 treatment are just some of the current issues analyzed in depth in this review.
authors: Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España. Electronic address: e_rodriguez_de_santiago@hotmail.com.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Rodríguez de Santiago
authors: Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ferre Aracil
authors: Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: García García de Paredes
authors: Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España.
authors: V F
authors: VF
authors: Moreira Vicente
keywords: Anemia perniciosa; Anticuerpos anticélula parietal; Anticuerpos antifactor intrínseco; B12 oral; Factor intrínseco; Gastric adenocarcinoma risk; Helicobacter pylori; Homocisteína; Homocysteine; Intrinsic factor; Intrinsic factor antibodies; Methylmalonic acid; Oral vitamin B12; Parietal cell antibodies; Pernicious anemia; Riesgo adenocarcinoma gástrico; Vitamin B12; Vitamina B12; Ácido metilmalónico