What is the primary cause of pernicious anemia?

What is the primary cause of pernicious anemia?

• A. Chronic use of aspirin, NSAIDs, corticosteroids
• B. Destruction of RBCs
• C. Decrease in intrinsic factor
• D. A variant of hemoglobin A

Answer: (C)

Pernicious anemia is primarily caused by a decrease in intrinsic factor, a protein that is essential for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the intestines. In pernicious anemia, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the gastric cells that produce intrinsic factor, leading to its deficiency. Without adequate intrinsic factor, the absorption of vitamin B12 is impaired, which is crucial for the production of red blood cells. This deficiency ultimately results in the development of megaloblastic anemia, characterized by large, immature red blood cells that cannot function properly. Understanding this mechanism highlights the importance of intrinsic factor in maintaining healthy blood cell production and provides significant insight into the underlying pathophysiology of pernicious anemia. The role of intrinsic factor distinguishes pernicious anemia from other forms of anemia that may arise due to different etiologies, such as hemolysis or dietary deficiencies unrelated to intrinsic factor.

Pernicious anemia is primarily caused by a decrease in intrinsic factor, a protein that is essential for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the intestines. In pernicious anemia, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the gastric cells that produce intrinsic factor, leading to its deficiency. Without adequate intrinsic factor, the absorption of vitamin B12 is impaired, which is crucial for the production of red blood cells. This deficiency ultimately results in the development of megaloblastic anemia, characterized by large, immature red blood cells that cannot function properly.

Understanding this mechanism highlights the importance of intrinsic factor in maintaining healthy blood cell production and provides significant insight into the underlying pathophysiology of pernicious anemia. The role of intrinsic factor distinguishes pernicious anemia from other forms of anemia that may arise due to different etiologies, such as hemolysis or dietary deficiencies unrelated to intrinsic factor.