Pernicious Anemia in Childhood

Abstract

PERNICIOUS anemia in childhood is a rare disorder. Only 25 definitely proved cases have been reported in the medical literature.^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17} To establish this diagnosis, other causes of megaloblastic anemia — folic acid deficiency and vitamin B₁₂ deficiency due to a general or specific intestinal absorptive defect — must be excluded. Thus, the diagnostic criteria include a megaloblastic anemia, absence of intrinsic factor from the gastric juice and impaired vitamin B₁₂ absorption (corrected by the administration of intrinsic factor). Cases in which a clinical diagnosis of pernicious anemia had been made without the demonstration of the absence of intrinsic . . .