PERNICIOUS ANIEMIA: INCIDENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF CIRCULATING ANTIBODIES TO INTRINSIC FACTOR AND TO PARIETAL CELLS

Intrinsic factor antibody was present in 54% and parietal cell antibody in 91% of 95 patients (26 men and 69 women) with Addisonian pernicious anæmia. The incidence of intrinsic factor antibody of 82% in 17 patients tested more than 10 years after diagnosis was significantly higher than the incidence of 47% in 78 patients tested within 10 years of diagnosis. The incidence of parietal cell antibody showed no significant variation with the duration of diagnosed pernicious anæmia. It is suggested that given sufficient time all patients with pernicious anæmia may develop detectable circulating antibody to intrinsic factor.