preview

Pernicious Anemia Research Paper

Decent Essays

In 1872 Michael Anton Biermer described a blood condition in a German article. He chose to name the rare disease he discovered “Pernicious anemia” because of the lethality and incurability at the time. Biermer’s disease or Pernicious anemia is a genetic disease where patients’ stomachs do not produce intrinsic factor which is a protein of the mucus membrane layer of the stomach.When the stomach does not make enough intrinsic factor, the intestine cannot properly absorb vitamin B12. The body needs vitamin B12 in order to function properly and remain healthy. Vitamin B12 assists in the production of red blood cells, DNA, and tissues, while helping keep nerve cells alive and healthy.This vitamin is found in many animal products such as beef, poultry, shellfish and more. Pernicious anemia is typically caused by a weakened stomach lining, or an autoimmune condition where the body attacks the intrinsic factor or the stomach lining. Biermer’s disease is rarely hereditary, this is called Congenital Pernicious anemia this is where babies do not make enough intrinsic factor or there is something going wrong with the absorption process in the small intestine. The prevalence of Pernicious anemia is estimated to be diagnosed in 1/769 people while Congenital Pernicious anemia is estimated to be …show more content…

A lack of oxygenated blood will cause the heart to have to work harder, possibly leading to arrhythmias Vitamin B-12 deficiency interferes with the nervous system, symptoms due to nervous system damage may show even before the Pernicious anemia is discovered. If it is not diagnosed for a while it can increase the likelihood of stomach cancer

Get Access