[Vitamin B12 deficiency in chronic atrophic gastritis. 3 cases (author's transl)]

The megaloblastic anaemia observed in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis is usually due to malabsorption of vitamin B12. In some cases, the absence of intrinsic factor supports the diagnosis of pernicious anaemia but other factors, the importance of which varies from case to case, are also involved. They include proliferation of bacteria in the lumen of the gut, intestinal cell abnormalities resulting from lack of vitamin B12 and low hydrochloric acid output with subsequent reduction in the release of vitamin B12 from foodstuffs. With regard to treatment, it would seem justified to combine oral broad-spectrum antibiotics with parenteral administration of vitamin B12.