A case of pernicious anemia of 27 year old Korean house-wife is presented together
with a review of the literature.
The patient was admitted to the department of Internal Medicine of Wonju Union
Christian Hospital on August 2nd, 1968, because of dull headache, dizziness and
indigestion since January 1968.
On physical examination, the patient was moderately developed and nourished but had
a markedly Pale face. Body weight wart 54㎏., B.P. was 120/70㎜Hg, and Pulse rate was
80/min.
Conjunctivae and lips were markedly anemic but sera was not icteric. Mucous
membrane appeared slightly Bale. The tongue was smooth with a rather beefy red color.
There was mild tenderness on the epigastrium without any mass. Neurological
examination was negative except hypoactive knee jerks.
Laboratory findings-disclosed routine C.B.C. showed pancytopenia, macrocytosis of the
peripheral blood, the bone marrow showed erythroid hyperplasia of megaloblastic type
and histamine resistant achlorhydria. But other laboratory findings including liver
function tests were unremarkable.
There was temporary marked reticulocyte response to the parenteral administration of
vitamin B-12 reaching a peak on the 8th day followed by return to normal level,
accompanied by a continuous increase in number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and
platelet count.
The patient was placed on parenteral administration of vitamin B-12 daily with
marked improvement of general physical status and hematologic findings. At 40 days
after start of vitamin B-12 therapy the bone marrow egg found to be normoblastic.
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