Pernicious anemia associated with chronic thyroiditis and suspected latent adrenal insufficiency

Abstract

A 64-year-old female referred to our hospital because of severe anemia. Peripheral blood examination showed macrocytic anemia; red blood cell count was 1.49×10⁶/μl, hemoglobin concentration was 5.6 g/dl, hematocrit was 16.1% and MCV was 108 fl. Serum VB 12 level was significantly low as 58 pg/ml. Upper gastrointestinal examination disclosed chronic atrophic gastritis. Anti-intrinsic factor and anti-parietal cell antibodies were detected in the serum and Schilling's test was positive. Thus a diagnosis of pernicious anemia was made. Though the serum free T 3 and free T 4 levels were in normal ranges, the eleveted serum TSH and positive tests for anti-microsome and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies indicated that the patient had chronic thyroiditis. Then other endocrinological examinations were performed. Low level of urinary 17-OHCS and a hypo-reactive pattern of rapid ACTH test led to a diagnosis of latent adrenal insufficiency. This case could be categorized into polyglandular autoimmune syndrome.