Pernicious Anemia in Childhood

Abstract

THE clinical and hematologic manifestations of pernicious anemia are due to a deficiency of vitamin B₁₂ resulting from a specific and selective inability to absorb the vitamin from the gastrointestinal tract. The failure of absorption of vitamin B₁₂ in pernicious anemia is due to the absence of intrinsic factor from the gastric secretion that is associated with, and generally considered to result from, atrophy of the gastric mucosa.¹ Achylia gastrica accompanies the atrophy of the gastric mucosa, and free hydrochloric acid is rarely present in the gastric secretion.Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency can be proved by serum microbiologic . . .