[Blocking and binding antibodies to intrinsic factor and their behaviour during oral therapy with intrinsic...

13 patients with pernicious anaemia and 2 patients who had been subjected to total gastrectomy were treated orally with a hog instrinsic factor preparation (IF) for 1 to 4.5 years. During this therapy 11 of the patients with pernicious anaemia and both gastrectomized patients developed blocking and binding antibodies to IF. Antibodies already present before the commencement of therapy showed an increase in titre. All patients remained in complete haematological remission. The conclusion is drawn that circulating antibodies to IF do not play any significant role in the absorption of the hog IF-B 12 complex.