pernicious anemia
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Related to pernicious anemia: iron deficiency anemia, aplastic anemia
pernicious anemia
n.
A severe anemia most often affecting older adults, caused by failure of the stomach to absorb vitamin B12 and marked by a decrease in number and an increase in the size of red blood cells, by gastrointestinal disturbances, and by lesions of the spinal cord.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
perni′cious ane′mia
n.
a severe anemia associated with inadequate intake or absorption of vitamin B12, characterized by defective production of red blood cells.
[1870–75]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
pernicious anemia
Anemia is the lack of hemoglobin (oxygen- carrying part of blood). Pernicious anemia is due to a lack of vitamin B12, and is often caused by an autoimmune disorder.
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Noun | 1. | pernicious anemia - a chronic progressive anemia of older adults; thought to result from a lack of intrinsic factor (a substance secreted by the stomach that is responsible for the absorption of vitamin B12) megaloblastic anaemia, megaloblastic anemia - anemia characterized by many large immature and dysfunctional red blood cells (megaloblasts) in the bone marrow; associated with pernicious anemia metaplastic anaemia, metaplastic anemia - pernicious anemia in which the various formed elements in the blood are changed |
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