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Updated: May 1, 2026
Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
Published on: January 19, 2024
Patient journeys: diagnosis and treatment of pernicious anaemia
Martyn Hooper1, Peter Hudson2, Fiona Porter3
1Chairman, The Pernicious Anaemia Society, Bridgend.
Background:
Instigating a patient support group for patients with pernicious anaemia (PA) revealed dissatisfaction with its current diagnosis and treatment. The authors investigated the clinical features, patient experience of diagnosis and treatment of PA in the UK.
Methods:
A total of 889 patients registered with the PA Society support group completed an online survey or postal questionnaire. Outcome measures included clinical features, length of time to diagnosis and patient satisfaction with current treatment
Results:
One-third of patients experienced symptoms for up to 1 year before diagnosis; 14% waited more than 10 years for a diagnosis. Neurological features were highly prevalent, the most common being memory loss and poor concentration. Nearly two-thirds of respondents were dissatisfied with current treatment; 10% used a non-licensed form of B12 to supplement their prescribed injections.
Conclusion:
The diagnosis and treatment of PA should be subject to a thorough review. This article discusses the patient survey and results and makes recommendations for how the diagnosis and treatment of PA may be evaluated.
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