A case of asymptomatic pancytopenia with clinical features of hemolysis as a presentation of pernicious anemia

Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease with a variety of clinical presentations. We describe a case of pernicious anemia presenting with pancytopenia with hemolytic features. Further workup revealed very low vitamin B12 levels and elevated methylmalonic acid. It is important for a general intern...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Venkateswara K. Kollipara, Patrick L. Brine, David Gemmel, Sisham Ingnam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Greater Baltimore Medical Center 2016-09-01
Series:Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jchimp.net/index.php/jchimp/article/view/32493/pdf_44
Description
Summary:Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease with a variety of clinical presentations. We describe a case of pernicious anemia presenting with pancytopenia with hemolytic features. Further workup revealed very low vitamin B12 levels and elevated methylmalonic acid. It is important for a general internist to identify pernicious anemia as one of the cause of pancytopenia and hemolytic anemia to avoid extensive workup. Pernicious anemia can present strictly with hematological abnormalities without neurological problems or vice versa as in our case.
ISSN:2000-9666