• Elżbieta Morawiec-Szymonik, Wanda Foltyn, Bogdan Marek, Joanna Głogowska-Szeląg, Beata Kos-Kudła, and Dariusz Kajdaniuk.
• Department of Clinical Oncology, Specialist Oncological Hospital Nu-Med, Częstochowa, Poland
• Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. 2020 Jan 31; 130 (1): 31-37.

IntroductionPernicious anemia (PA) is an autoimmune hematopoietic disease.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to determine autoantibodies involved in the pathogenesis of PA and the development of other autoimmune disorders such as connective tissue diseases and celiac disease. We also aimed to assess the potential usefulness of the specific diagnostic and screening tests in patients with PA.Patients And MethodsThe study group comprised 124 women and men with newly diagnosed PA and 41 healthy controls. Intrinsic factor (IF) antibodies, gastric parietal cell (GPC) antibodies, endomysium antibodies (EmAs), and antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) were determined in blood samples.ResultsIF or GPC antibodies were present in 61.3% of patients, GPC antibodies, in 46%, IF antibodies, in 30.6%, IF and GPC antibodies, in 15.3%. There was no difference in the occurrence of ANAs and EmAs between the PA and control groups. However, ANAs were found in 16.1% of patients with PA and in 4.9% of controls. The occurrence of EmAs in both groups was similar (3.2% vs 2.4%); however, it has been shown that patients with IF or GPC antibodies are more prone to be EmA positive (P = 0.009).ConclusionsSimultaneous determination of IF and GPC antibodies increases the chances of confirming the diagnosis of PA. Also, screening for connective tissue diseases and celiac disease may be considered in patients with PA, due to the presence of ANAs and EmAs in that population.

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