Congenital Pernicious Anemia; Report of a Case with Atrophic Gastritis and Transitory Selective Malabsorption of Vitamin B₁₂

Abstract

We report of a 13-7/12 year old boy with congenital pernicious anemia. His first anemic episode was seen at 1-8/12 year old. His anemia responded well to the therapy of vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid, and improved dramatically. Thereafter, he had been symptomless for about 12 years untill a month prior to this visit and admission to our clinic.
He had atrophic gastric mucosa with normal gastric acid secretion and transitory selective malabsorption of vitamin B₁₂. Both of these findings are different from those of typical case with congenital pernicious anemia, and possibly derived from the prolonged vitamin B₁₂ deficiency.
We would like to follow carefully whether he will develop to other types of pernicious anemia associated with achlorhydria, and/or with antibodies to the intrinsic factor or to the parietal cells.