PERNICIOUS-ANEMIA PATIENTS SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR IRON-DEFICIENCY DURING FOLLOW-UP

Aims, To investigate if patients with pernicious anaemia (PA) are pron e to develop iron deficiency and if there is a difference for this man ifestation between younger and older age groups. Methods. Ninety-five patients with pernicious anaemia were evaluated for body iron status a t the time of diagnosis and during follow up. Patients were also divid ed into two groups; younger than 60 (53 patients) and older than 60 (4 2 patients) years of age. Groups were compared for iron deficiency bot h at the time of diagnosis and at the end of follow up period. Results . Iron deficiency was a common finding in patients with pernicious ana emia. This deficiency state was more common in the elderly. During B-1 2 therapy, iron deficiency increased in all groups, but the increased rate of iron deficiency was more prominent in the elderly patients. Co nclusion. Pernicious anaemia is an atrophic gastropathy in which gastr ic parietal cells no longer produce hydrochloric acid. These patients with achlorhydria demonstrate impaired absorption of iron. On the othe r hand, with ageing, gastric acidity is already diminished, Iron defic iency commonly accompanies patients with pernicious anaemia and this i s more pronounced in the elderly group, We suggest that all patients w ith pernicious anaemia, especially the elderly, should be screened for iron deficiency both at the beginning and during the follow up.