CONTEXT: Pernicious anemia (PA) is an autoimmune organ disease much more common in type 1 diabetic patients (DM1) than in nondiabetic subjects, but it is clinically silent until its end stage. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine biochemical markers of latent PA in a population of DM1 patients attending the endocrinology outpatient clinic of a university hospital. STUDY SUBJECTS: The population studied consisted of 186 unselected patients (32.4 +/- 8.7 yr) and 118 healthy controls (30.9 +/- 9.4 yr). MEASUREMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Plasma gastrin and pepsinogen I were determined in patients and controls, whereas hemoglobin A1c, serum cobalamin, hemoglobin, and organ-specific antibodies were determined only in patients. Latent PA was defined as serum pepsinogen I less than 30 microg/liter. In patients with low pepsinogen I concentrations and hypergastrinemia, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed. RESULTS: DM1 patients showed significantly lower pepsinogen I concentrations (P < 0.001) and higher gastrinemia than controls. Latent PA was present in 12.4% of patients vs. 0.9% of controls. Among patients, more women than men showed low plasma pepsinogen I concentrations (P = 0.002) and thyroperoxidase antibody positivity (P < 0.001). Only the highest parietal cell antibody titers (> or =1:640) identified patients with significantly higher levels of plasma gastrin (P < 0.001) and lower levels of pepsinogen I (P < 0.001). The histopathological EGD findings confirmed different degrees of gastric body mucosa atrophy in all cases. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of latent PA found in our DM1 patients leads us to recommend its screening using serum pepsinogen I concentrations. In patients with hypergastrinemia and high parietal cell antibody titers, EGD should be considered to confirm gastric mucosa atrophy.
CONTEXT: Pernicious anemia (PA) is an autoimmune organ disease much more common in type 1 diabeticpatients (DM1) than in nondiabetic subjects, but it is clinically silent until its end stage. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine biochemical markers of latent PA in a population of DM1 patients attending the endocrinology outpatient clinic of a university hospital. STUDY SUBJECTS: The population studied consisted of 186 unselected patients (32.4 +/- 8.7 yr) and 118 healthy controls (30.9 +/- 9.4 yr). MEASUREMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Plasma gastrin and pepsinogen I were determined in patients and controls, whereas hemoglobin A1c, serum cobalamin, hemoglobin, and organ-specific antibodies were determined only in patients. Latent PA was defined as serum pepsinogen I less than 30 microg/liter. In patients with low pepsinogen I concentrations and hypergastrinemia, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed. RESULTS: DM1 patients showed significantly lower pepsinogen I concentrations (P < 0.001) and higher gastrinemia than controls. Latent PA was present in 12.4% of patients vs. 0.9% of controls. Among patients, more women than men showed low plasma pepsinogen I concentrations (P = 0.002) and thyroperoxidase antibody positivity (P < 0.001). Only the highest parietal cell antibody titers (> or =1:640) identified patients with significantly higher levels of plasma gastrin (P < 0.001) and lower levels of pepsinogen I (P < 0.001). The histopathological EGD findings confirmed different degrees of gastric body mucosa atrophy in all cases. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of latent PA found in our DM1 patients leads us to recommend its screening using serum pepsinogen I concentrations. In patients with hypergastrinemia and high parietal cell antibody titers, EGD should be considered to confirm gastric mucosa atrophy.
Authors: N Alonso; M L Granada; B Soldevila; I Salinas; C Joaquin; J L Reverter; J Juncà; E M Martínez Cáceres; A Sanmartí Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2010-06-04 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Núria Alonso; María Jesús Martínez-Arconada; María Luisa Granada; Berta Soldevila; Ana Cantón; José Luis Mate; Anna Sanmartí; Eva María Martínez-Cáceres Journal: Endocrine Date: 2009-03-17 Impact factor: 3.633
Authors: William L Neumann; Elizabeth Coss; Massimo Rugge; Robert M Genta Journal: Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2013-06-18 Impact factor: 46.802