Pernicious anemia is due to deficiency of:

# Pernicious anemia is due to deficiency of:

A. Iron

B. Cobalamine

C. Folic acid

D. Niacin

The correct answer is B. Cobalamine.

Pernicious anemia is a relatively common chronic hematologic disease. It is an adult form of anemia that is associated with gastric atrophy and a loss of intrinsic factor production in gastric secretions and a rare congenital autosomal recessive form in which intrinsic factor (IF) production is lacking without gastric atrophy. The term pernicious anemia is reserved for patients with vitamin B12 deficiency due to a lack of production of IF in the stomach. Intrinsic factor in gastric secretions is necessary for the absorption of dietary vitamin B12. Vitamin B12, a substance now thought to be synonymous with the ‘erythrocyte-maturing factor’ or ‘hemopoietic principle’ and present in many foods, particularly liver, beef, milk and dairy products. Body stores of the vitamin usually exceed 1000 mcg and the daily requirement is about 1 mcg.

Reference: Shafer’s Textbook of ORAL PATHOLOGY, Seventh Edition, Page 762

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