How long does it take to get a correct diagnosis for pernicious anemia?
How long does it take to get a correct diagnosis for pernicious anemia?
Sadly, in most countries, doctors testing for Pernicious Anemia do a pretty awful job. In a survey done by the Pernicious Anemia Society, 44% of patients were misdiagnosed with another condition; 22% had to wait two years for a correct diagnosis; 19% for five years; 4% for 10 years; and 14% waited 10 years or more. That is a catastrophy.
Is there a negative IFA for pernicious anemia?
No immunological evidence of Pernicious Anemia. Negative IFA but Positive GPCA? 90%+ to have Autoimmune Gastritis, which may end up in Pernicious Anemia one day. Negative IFA does not exclude the possibility of Pernicious Anemia, since only about half of PA patients test positive for this antibody.
Can a person with low B12 be diagnosed with pernicious anemia?
Even in the absence of anemia, patients with low B12 (who don’t have food-bound cobalamin malabsorption or other clear causes) should be tested. Testing positive for this confirms the diagnosis of Pernicious Anemia. Testing negative doesn’t exclude diagnosis, because the test is not robust enough to detect all cases.
Can a GPCA be used to diagnose pernicious anemia?
It means that this Pernicious Anemia diagnostic test isn’t as specific as the IFA test, because patients with other diseases (gastritis, diabetes, and thyroiditis come to mind) may have these very same antibodies. If your B12 levels come in low, and you test positive for GPCA, doctors will often diagnose you with PA.
Sadly, in most countries, doctors testing for Pernicious Anemia do a pretty awful job. In a survey done by the Pernicious Anemia Society, 44% of patients were misdiagnosed with another condition; 22% had to wait two years for a correct diagnosis; 19% for five years; 4% for 10 years; and 14% waited 10 years or more. That is a catastrophy.
Even in the absence of anemia, patients with low B12 (who don’t have food-bound cobalamin malabsorption or other clear causes) should be tested. Testing positive for this confirms the diagnosis of Pernicious Anemia. Testing negative doesn’t exclude diagnosis, because the test is not robust enough to detect all cases.
Can a Positive IFA be a sign of pernicious anemia?
About half of all Pernicious Anaemia patients test negative for IFA. In contrast, PCA is an excellent indicator of Autoimmune Gastritis, which often ends in Pernicious Anemia over the years. Unknown IFA but positive PCA? Again, PCA is seen in more than 90% of patients with Autoimmune Gastritis, which often leads to PA.
It means that this Pernicious Anemia diagnostic test isn’t as specific as the IFA test, because patients with other diseases (gastritis, diabetes, and thyroiditis come to mind) may have these very same antibodies. If your B12 levels come in low, and you test positive for GPCA, doctors will often diagnose you with PA.