Prevalence of pernicious anemia in patients with macrocytic anemia and low serum B12 in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

Objective: The current research evaluated the prevalence of pernicious anemia (PA) in patients with macrocytic anemia (high MCV) and low serum B12 in Riyadh.

Methods: Blood testing was done in 77 patients (males: 45.5%, females: 54.5%) with macrocytic anemia; 84 patients; (males: 23.8%, females: 76.2%) with low serum B12 and 30 healthy subjects. Complete blood count, differential count, folic acid, vitamin B12, intrinsic factor, gastric parietal cell antibodies and holotranscobalamin II were assessed.

Results: A total of five subjects from 161 patients had PA; three of these patients had macrocyticanemia (3.90%) and two patients had low serum B12 (2.38%). Significant differences (p<0.05) in some hematological, immunological, biochemical parameters were found in subjects with macrocytic anemia and low serum B12 compared to controls.

Conclusions: Pernicious anemia in patients with macrocytic anemia and low serum B12 was for the selected sample size can be assumed to be uncommon in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.