Megaloblastic Anemia

Question: What is the difference between pernicious anemia and megaloblastic anemia (or is there a difference)?

Answer: Megaloblastic anemia, also called pernicious anemia, is a type of anemia characterized by very large red blood cells. In addition to the cells being large, the inner contents of each cell are not completely developed. This malformation causes the bone marrow to produce fewer cells, and sometimes the cells die earlier than the 120-day life expectancy. Instead of being round or disc-shaped, the red blood cells can be oval.

Question: what is the difference between megaloblastic anemia and pernicious anemia?

Answer: Hmm, I'm not familiar with this, but please check out this website and see if it helps. Good luck http://www.umm.edu/blood/aneper.htm

Question: Why does Red Blood Cell of Megaloblastic Anemia is biger than normal? What size of anbormal RBC of Megaloblastic anemia?

Answer: The last cell division of the rbc precursor does not take place when there is a lack of either B12 or folate, it continues to mature though, and loses the nucleus leaving it with the cytoplasm of the cell that was ready to divide but could not. Kind of a simplified version.

Question: Megaloblastic Anemia can lead to some neurological disorders. Does that include seizures?

Answer: No, not usually seizures, except in infants.

Question: is megaloblastic anemia hereditary? Hi, my grandfather was recently diagnosed with this disease, and i was wondering if it is hereditary. I've been hospitalized for severe anemia in the past, but it was never diagnosed. I am wondering if i should get tested. what do you think?

Answer: It depends on what is causing it. In older persons, it often is due to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency. Your anemia was most likely iron deficiency anemia. If you had megaloblastic anemia, you probably would nave been formally diagnosed with it. One hereditary cause of megaloblastic anemia is Pernicious Anemia. However, your grandfather would have been diagnosed with it as a child, not late in life.

Question: What is megaloblastic anemia?

Answer: Anemia means a lower than normal red blood count. Megaloblastic means that the individual red blood cells are larger than normal. The most common cause of this is Vitamin B12 deficiency - usually due to problems absorbing B12 becuase of a problem in the terminal ileum, the end of the small intestine or to lack of intrinsic factor which is made in the stomach. Folic acid deficiency can also cause it.

Question: Vit B12 deficit without megaloblastic Anaemia?? i know i have a deficit and i know it is not caused by unsufficient intake,i eat meat 4-5 times a week, and diary products daily, plus i've already taken B12 pills for three months and level still too low. but the MCV shows no indication for megaloblastic anemia... any explanation??

Answer: Go to a Doctor first of all but I can give you a possible explanation that covers the entire problem you have. First of all, you need to be aware of how B12 is absorbed. It is a water soluble vitamin that is unique because it requires an additional substance called Intrinsic Factor which is synthesised by the stomach, so it can be absorbed. IF binds to B12 for it to be absorbed. If you don't have Intrinsic Factor, some people suffer Pernicious Anaemia which is a megaloblastic anaemia subtype (although it is obvious that you're not suffering from it). This explains why your B12 levels are low but you are eating sufficient amounts of it (ie you may not have Intrinsic Factor). Next point- Why is it that you do not have anaemia? The answer to this is quite complex. There is something called the folate pool or folate cycle. When you have folic acid, it enters a cycle that makes a particular type of folate, CTHF (no point in what it stands for). CTHF is used to make purines that are needed in cells that reproduce very quickly, such as red blood cells. If this substance is low then the cell division is affected (the DNA synthesis specifically) and the cells end up large and inefficent in oxygen exchange. The CHTF will also form methyl-folate which then requires B12 and methionine to revert back to a form that can reenter the CHTF pool. If B12 is low, then CHTF is also low and Methyl-folate will be exceptionally high. This will lead to megaloblastic anaemia. The problem is that if you have folate in the diet, you will keep adding to the CHTF from pure folate instead of recycling using Vit B12. This will mask the anaemia artificially. Remember folate is added to a lot of things. You may now ask... why then will low B12 affect me? This is because B12 is also needed for healthy nerves. Without B12 you will develop neuropathy and some of the problems caused are irreversible and can be fatal. Funnily enough the description above is also the arguement some lobbists use to complain against folate being added to foodstuffs such as bread and cereal. Although higher levels of folate are needed in pregnant women and is good fo them. I hope this helps and appreciate that this is difficult to understand.

Question: Can prenatal vitamin cause wilson disease? with my pills it says Contraindications Wilson's disease. Hemochromatosis. Treatment of pernicious or other megaloblastic anemias. does that mean it can cause it or it is a caution if you already have it?

Answer: When something is 'contraindicated' that means that you should not take it if you have the diseases or dysfunctions named. You can not get Wilson's Disease from a prenatal vitamin, and the prenatal vitamin will not treat pregnant women who have Wilson's Disease ...

Question: Are all of these things possible problems from being a vegetarian??? Kwashiorkor Cachexia Beriberi---(Thiamine Deficiency) Ariboflavinosis Pellagra---(Niacin Deficiency) Bitot's Spots Scurvy---(Vitamin C Deficiency) Rickets---(Vitamin D Deficiency) Osteomalacia Goitre Diabetes Mellitus Osteoporosis---(Lack of Calcium) Megaloblastic Anemia---(B12 Deficiency) Xerophthalmia/Night Blindness---(Vitamin A Deficiency) Zinc Deficiency (Growth Retardation) Iron Deficiency Anemia Loss of Hair Loss of Muscle mass Abnormal Accumulation of Fluid Weakend Immune System Lower Bone Mineral Density Irregular Menstration in Women Low Birth Weight in Women Intestinal Discomfort Lack of Pigment Dry Skin Developmental Abnormalities

Answer: look at obese people and then ask yourself what health problems are possible. Poor diet of ANY kind can cause issues.

Question: Should i take vitamin B-12? Will it hurt me? I keep having severe anemia come back after six months of treatment by a doctor who cannot find the reason for my anemia. He had me on iron 3 times daily, got my iron up to a good place. Then I have been off the iron for a couple weeks and am slowly having the same issues again. Dizzy, down-hearted, tired, not wanting to eat coz I feel nauseous but I eat as needed, turning and staying red. Bruising. Loss of menstruation. So basically, it's starting over again without the iron pills. I have a good, iron-conscious diet. Would it harm me to self medicate with vitamin B-12 till I see the doctor for my follow-up? Will that vitamin help? I read on the bottle that it helps prevent megaloblastic anemia. The iron pills never made me constipated. I felt healthy while on them too. i noticed a difference the next day after the doctor said my iron is good now, to go ahead and stop the pill, with cravings of ice cream. Later in the week, I was tired and turning red a lot. Now I am very dizzy, sick to stomach, etc. all like when I was slowly working my way down to a low hemoglobin count earlier this year. Chicken is the meat I eat most. But I eat other things that have lots of iron. It really seems to be an absorption issue. i've had low potassium that had to be monitored before too. And I've learned my lesson already about things like Red Bull or energy jelly beans. Hurts my heart. Can't do it. Wow. You guys have all helped! Wish I could give the 10 to all of you. You've talked me into calling the doctor for sure this week and also not taking the B-12.

Answer: Do not self-prescribe or take advice on the Internet. There Are many more minerals of which you may have a shortage, such as iodine and magnesium. My advice - consult another doctor and do not pay the previous one.