Vitamin B 12 malabsorption due to intrinsic factor deficiency in Indian subjects.

Sixteen patients (from Bombay) with dence of circulating intrinsic factor severe vitamin B12 malabsorption due antibody (IFA) in Indian patients with to intrinsic factor deficiency, presenthistamine-fast achlorhydria and poor ing as subacute combined degeneravitamin B12 absorption is emphasized. tion of the cord (7), tropical sprue (3), The necessity of separating atrophic anemia (2), thyrotoxicosis (2), diabetes gastritis, with severely impaired vitamellitus (1), and pain in the abdomen mm B12 absorption, from pernicious (1), are reported. The difficulties of anemia on the basis of absence or establishing a definite diagnosis of presence of IFA in serum and/or pernicious anemia in Indian populagastric juice cannot be overemphation are described. The lower mcisized.