Hello and welcome to the zero to finals podcast. My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be

talking to you about panicious anemia. And if you want to follow along with written notes on this

topic, you can follow along at zero definals.com slash panicious anemia or in the hematology section

of the zero to finals medicine book. So let's get straight into it. Penicious anemia or in the hematology section of the zero de finals medicine book.

So let's get straight into it.

Panicious anemia is a cause of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia.

And B12 deficiency can be caused by either insufficient dietary intake of vitamin B12 or

pernicious anemia.

Let's start with the pathophysiology.

The parietal cells in the stomach produce a protein called intrinsic factor,

and intrinsic factor is essential for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the ileum.

Penitious anemia is an autoimmune condition where antibodies form against the parietal

cells or intrinsic factor.

A lack of intrinsic factor prevents the absorption of vitamin B12 and the patient becomes

vitamin B12 deficient.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a number of neurological symptoms,

and these are peripheral neuropathy with numbness or paracetia,

and paracetia is like pins and needles,

a loss of vibration sense or a loss of pro-preception,

visual changes, and then mood and cognitive changes.

A quick tom tip, for your exams, remember testing for vitamin B12 deficiency and

panicious anemia in patients presenting with peripheral neuropathy, particularly with pins and needles.

...