2023-11-21 13:33:00
Verified on 11/21/2023 by PasseportSanté
Biermer disease is characterized by a disorder of red blood cell production generally caused by a lack of vitamin B12. This essential vitamin is necessary and its deficiency can lead to anemia.
In this introduction, we’ll explore Biermer’s disease, its symptoms, risk factors, and available treatment approaches in more depth.
What is Biermer’s disease?
The first mention of Biermer’s disease dates back to 1855, when the English physician Thomas Addison began to study it. Later, a German colleague named Anton Biermer continued this research by providing more precise details on the mechanisms underlying this particular form of anemia.
This disease predominantly affects women, generally following the age of 50, and often occurs in people with other autoimmune diseases (type I diabetes, dysthyroidism).
Biermer’s disease is an autoimmune disease, also called “pernicious anemia.” This disease associates malabsorption at the gastric level, that is to say chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa leading to a reduction in the volume of the stomach mucosa as well as anemia linked to a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Biermer’s disease is therefore the proven cause of nearly 50% of vitamin B12 deficiencies in adults.
We speak of macrocytic anemia because Biermer’s disease is defined, in particular, by a low hemoglobin level as well as the presence of red blood cells (red blood cells) whose size is abnormally large.
What are the causes of Biermer’s disease?
Several causes have been recognized for the appearance of Biermer’s disease which is explained by:
intestinal malabsorption of vitamin B12 caused by a lack of a protein called intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is the protein that allows the intestines to absorb vitamin B12 and is made by cells in the stomach lining. Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, plays an essential role in the optimal functioning of the brain and nervous system and contributes to the assimilation of folic acid (vitamin B9). This essential vitamin is necessary for the formation of healthy red blood cells; other diseases such as type 1 diabetes, lupus or even thyroiditis, Addison’s disease and secondary amenorrhea; pathologies that affect the gastrointestinal tract -intestinal, such as Crohn’s disease, surgical removal of the ileum or part of the stomach, the installation of a gastric band can cause Biermer’s disease; autoimmune endocrine disorders; the use of medications once morest ulcers, intestinal infections and metabolic disorders are elements likely to cause disturbances in the gastrointestinal system; the vegetarian diet is also one of the causes because vitamin B12 mainly comes from foods of animal origin: offal, seafood, meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.
What are the symptoms of this disease?
The clinical symptoms develop in a very gradual and silent manner and are manifested by the typical symptoms that are observed in all cases of anemia:
pale complexion: sometimes well tolerated, the disease can manifest itself with discreet symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, bleeding gums; tachycardia: an acceleration in the heart rate, which no longer allows the heart to to normally fulfill its function which is to pump blood efficiently, towards the brain and the body; jaundice: abnormality of the color of the skin which takes on a yellowish color; digestive symptoms: alteration of the perception of taste (dyspepsia ), stomach pain (epigastralgia), gastritis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. We can find Hunter’s glossitis or atrophic glossitis (inflammation of the tongue, it becomes smooth and painful then atrophic, depapulated) which occurs in 50% of cases and constitutes a premature indicator of Biermer’s anemia; neurological problems: numbness , tingling in the hands and feet, difficulty in coordination
Neurological signs appear late and manifest variably. In the most severe cases, pernicious anemia affects the nervous system and can lead to personality changes, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, irritability, hallucinations, depression or an increased feeling of fatigue. .
Early detection and treatment of this disease is of paramount importance, as it can lead to serious complications, including severe neurological disorders, neuroanemic syndromes, major heart problems, and even an increased risk of breast cancer. ‘stomach.
A blood test will reveal macrocytic anemia, characterized by a decrease in the number of red blood cells and an excessive size of these blood cells. Faced with these results, the doctor must deepen his investigations to identify the cause of this anemia. Confirmation of the diagnosis requires the search for “anti-intrinsic factor” antibodies and “anti-gastric parietal cell” antibodies.
Then, the diagnosis is clinical, depending on the symptoms presented by the patient there is often an associated digestive syndrome. Gastric endoscopy may be performed to visualize the state of the mucous membranes to monitor the progression of the disease towards gastric cancer.
Treatment involves administration of vitamin B12 intramuscularly, as the oral treatment is not absorbed through the atrophied gastric mucosa. This is a vitamin supplement that must be taken for life.
Monitoring of the risk of degeneration will also continue for life, and it will be carried out by an upper digestive endoscopy with multiple samples, according to the frequency established by your gastroenterologist.
Was this article useful to you?
1700575812
#Biermers #disease #symptoms #treatments
