Autoimmune pernicious anaemia (PA) is just one of many causes but it’s clear that many doctors consider it to be the only serious cause of B12 deficiency and therefore the only one worth treating with B12 injections. This is due to lack of education on this subject which for most, is usually lumped in with anaemia. It is important to note that anaemia (macrocytosis) is not always present in B12 deficient patients.
In fact ALL causes of this debilitating condition require correct and adequate treatment and it is ALWAYS SERIOUS if it remains undiagnosed and untreated. Remember this condition attacks the central and peripheral nervous system, all body systems and all ages, not just elderly women. B12 is vital for the production of red blood cells and for DNA synthesis.
It seems the majority of doctors – worldwide, have only really learnt about PA and limited information at that. This means that they can neglect and under treat seriously B12 deficient patients. Up to 60% of patients who fail to achieve the correct diagnosis of PA due to the inaccurate diagnostic tests (gastric intrinsic factor antibodies & parietal cell antibodies), may be given an extremely poor deal along with those of us who do not have PA but are B12 deficient due to other causes.
The widespread use of Metformin and Omeprazole to name just two drugs, which stop absorption of B12 from food, cause untold damage. In the case of the diabetic drug Metformin, a doctor may confuse the tingling and numbness in fingers and toes caused by B12 deficiency with diabetic neuropathy, thereby potentially condemning the patient to serious and permanent nerve damage.
Neither of these drugs (and many others) fully warn the user, or the prescriber, on the ‘Patient information leaflet’ (PIL) of prolonged usage causing B12 deficiency.
Most patients with B12 deficiency will require B12 injections FOR LIFE, whether they have; coeliac disease, have had a gastric bypass, atrophic gastritis, Crohn’s disease, genetic mutations, advanced liver disease they all need injections and NOT the low dose cyanocobalamin oral tablets which doctors with lack of knowledge prescribe. Please note there are many more causes of this condition.
There are however some causes of B12 deficiency which CAN be temporary;
• Helicobacter Pylori – Provided this bacterial infection has been short-term and that
H-pylori lesions have not damaged the wall of the stomach or duodenum the patient can recover from this deficiency. If damage has occurred then B12 injections will be required for life.
• Parasites, such as fish tapeworms, or Giardia lamblia – ONLY IF these infestations are correctly diagnosed and effectively eradicated B12 deficiency can be corrected with appropriate treatment. Unfortunately parasitic infestations are hard to confirm as the diagnostic tests for these are also prone to flaws and frequently miss ‘host’ patients who would otherwise be able to absorb B12 from their diet.
Patients using stomach acid lowering drugs (H2 Blockers, PPI’s and antacids) have a secondary problem alongside a resulting B12 deficiency; a greater vulnerability to parasites which can unfortunately lurk undetected for years. These patients may have a very poor chance of naturally ridding themselves of these invaders who interfere with normal B12 absorption and compete for any B12 present in the diet. A healthy level of stomach acid is required to kill off these parasites.
Many B12 deficient patients, whatever the cause, are discriminated against and treated as second class citizens every day, in treatment terms, but a doctor who does not understand the myriad of causes of this condition could cause serious harm by assuming oral tablets will be absorbed and correct a deficiency.
If Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients were treated with the same level of discrimination, there would be uproar. Imagine doctors only allowing type 1 patients insulin but sending all type 2 patients off to simply look at a pig?
If you are a doctor who has learned only about PA and your patient does not test positive for IFA or PCA then you must still treat this patient properly whilst exploring other causes, and remember they may have a parasite that tests can’t detect.
• If you can’t find the cause please remember this is not the fault of the patient
• Treat their symptoms, and don’t assume it is ‘all in their mind’
• Give them loading doses (6 injections over two weeks)
• And if they have NEUROLOGICAL symptoms REMEMBER to continue their loading doses until their symptoms STOP IMPROVING, as per NICE and BNF Guidelines.
Best wishes, Tracey
The difficulties with vitamin B12.
We discuss the management of patients who present with neurological manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency; highlighting the fact that parenteral replacement is needed in such cases, even if the serum vitamin B12 level appears to be normal.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/27009308/?i=5&from=b12
http://cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12-and-folate-deficiency#!scenariorecommendation:4
Information on PA Tests – http://www.www.b12deficiency.info/assets/pat-kornic-testing-f.pdf
http://www.www.b12deficiency.info/what-are-the-causes/
http://www.www.b12deficiency.info/what-to-do-next/
Raising awareness; http://www.www.b12deficiency.info/how-you-can-help/
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