Contents:
- Medical Video: SYMPTOMS OF PERNICIOUS ANEMIA
- Medical records in the family
- Physical test
- Procedures and diagnostic tests
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Other blood tests
- Bone marrow test
Medical Video: SYMPTOMS OF PERNICIOUS ANEMIA
The doctor will diagnose pernicious anemia based on family medical records, physical examinations, and patient test results.
The doctor will find out the cause of pernicious anemia, either because of lack of intrinsic factors or other causes. In addition, the doctor will recommend treatment according to the severity of the patient's condition.
Medical records in the family
In addition to the signs and symptoms of the disease, the doctor will also ask several questions, as follows:
- Have you ever had intestinal abdominal surgery?
- Do you have digestive disorders, such as celiac or Crohn’s disease?
- What foods and medicines do you consume?
- Do you have a family history of anemia or pernicious anemia?
- Do you have a family history of autoimmune disorders (such as Addison's disease, type 1 diabetes, Graves' disease, or vitiligo). Research shows an association between autoimmune disorders and pernicious anemia caused by an autoimmune response.
Physical test
During a physical examination, the doctor will examine liver enlargement and signs of pale skin or yellowish skin. In addition, the doctor will also detect a rapid, irregular heartbeat or heart murmur, check for signs of nerve damage, examine muscle function, eyes, senses, and reflexes. Your doctor may do a test to check your mental status, coordination, and walking ability.
Procedures and diagnostic tests
Blood tests and procedures can diagnose and look for the causes of pernicious anemia.
Complete blood count (CBC)
In many cases, the initial test used to diagnose anemia is blood count count (CBC). CBC can measure parts of your blood. For this test, a blood sample will be taken through a vein (usually in the arm area) using a needle.
This test checks hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body, while hematocrit is a measure of the space of red blood cells in your blood. Low levels of hemoglobin or hematocrit are a sign of anemia.
The normal range of hemoglobin and hematocrit levels can vary depending on certain racial and ethnic populations. The doctor will explain your test results in full.
CBC is also used to check the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. Abnormal results are a sign of hemolytic anemia, other blood disorders, infections, or other conditions.
In addition, CBC can check mean corpuscular volume (MCV). MCV is the average size of red blood cells. The results can be used as a clue to the cause of your anemia.
Other blood tests
If CBC results indicate that you have anemia, you may need another blood test to find out the type and severity of anemia you have.
Reticulocyte count measure the number of pink blood cells in your blood. This test will evaluate the performance of your bone marrow in making red blood cells normally. Patients with pernicious anemia have a relatively low reticulocyte number.
Tests for measuring serum folate, iron, and iron binders can also help diagnose pernicious anemia or other types of anemia.
Another general test, called Luminescence Test Combined Binding, sometimes giving inaccurate results. Scientists are still working to develop more sophisticated tests.
Your doctor may recommend other blood tests to check:
- Vitamin B12 level. Low levels of vitamin B12 in the blood are a sign of pernicious anemia. However, the level of vitamin B12 in the blood may show inaccurate results due to interference from antibodies.
- Homocysteine and methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels. The high level of MMA in your body is a sign of pernicious anemia.
- Intrinsic factor antibodies and parietal cell antibodies. These antibodies are also a sign of pernicious anemia.
Bone marrow test
The bone marrow test can show the performance of your healthy bone marrow in making enough blood cells. The bone marrow test is divided into two, namely aspiration and biopsy.
For aspiration of the bone marrow, the doctor will take a small amount of fluid from the bone marrow through a needle. The sample is examined under a microscope to examine damaged cells.
Meanwhile, bone marrow biopsy can be done simultaneously or after aspiration. For this test, the doctor will take a small amount of bone marrow tissue through a needle. Tissue samples are examined to determine the number and type of cells in the bone marrow.
In pernicious anemia, the size of bone marrow cells that turn into blood cells becomes larger than normal size.
