Recognizing pituitary insufficiency in the elderly.
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Biomedical subjects
J V Mannakkara
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Hypothesis: a history of hypothyroidism or a family history of pernicious anaemia are useful in identifying masked pernicious anaemia in elderly patients with microcytic hypochromic anaemia.
Of 2200 consecutive patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit, 58 had microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Twenty of these (34%) had serum vitamin B12 below the normal range. Eleven (19%) had malabsorption of vitamin B12 in eight of whom (14%) this was due to pernicious anaemia (PA). This study re-emphasizes the need for screening for PA in patients with microcytic hypochromic anaemia, particularly those with a family history or who have recognized associated diseases.
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