Intrinsic Factor Antibody/ IF Antibody

General information:

These antibodies are tested in vitamin B12 deficiency with pernicious anemia and chronic atrophic gastritis. Between 50 and 70% of patients with pernicious anemia are carriers of such antibodies. Vitamin B12 deficiency, however, in addition to these autoantibodies, can also be due to a deficiency in the production of intrinsic factor, as well as malabsorption for other reasons.

Autoimmune atrophic gastritis is an atrophic gastritis characterized by atrophy of the mucosa in the area of the corpus and fundus of the stomach and diffuse atrophy of the parietal and chief cells.

As a result, there is a deficiency of an internal factor, which causes a decrease in vitamin B12 and the development of pernicious anemia. T - lymphocytes infiltrate the gastric mucosa and contribute to the destruction of epithelial cells and the development of atrophy. Chronic atrophic gastritis affects both sexes equally. It is diagnosed relatively late because it is the result of long-term damage to the gastric mucosa. Atrophic gastritis is the final stage in the development of chronic gastritis (infectious or autoimmune).

The clinical manifestation of autoimmune atrophic gastritis is related to the deficiency of B12, which is not adequately absorbed due to a deficiency of intrinsic factor. The disease progresses slowly. Different systems are affected. The most characteristic manifestation is pernicious anemia. It is manifested by weakness, palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, tinnitus. Patients have a red tongue, loss of appetite and diarrhea. Neurological symptoms include stiffness and paresthesias of the extremities, weakness and ataxia. Mental disorders range from irritability to severe dementia and psychosis. Patients with pernicious anemia more often develop gastric polyps and gastric cancer. Sometimes it is possible to develop iron deficiency anemia refractory to iron administration. In autoimmune gastritis, the evidence of antiparietal and antiintrinsic factor antibodies, achlorhydria and hypergastrinemia, low serum levels of Vitamin B12 are important.

Sample required:

Venous blood

Key words:

intrinsic factor, pernicious anemia, vitamin b12 deficiency