BJ does. She gets injections regularly and has for years.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000569.htm
Pernicious anemia is caused by a lack of intrinsic factor, a substance needed to
absorb vitamin B12 from the gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin B12, in turn, is
necessary for the formation of red blood cells. Anemia is a condition where red
blood cells are not providing adequate oxygen to body tissues. There are many
types and causes of anemia. (See the general article - anemia.)

Pernicious anemia is a type of megaloblastic anemia.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Intrinsic factor is a protein the body uses to absorb vitamin B12. When gastric
secretions do not have enough intrinsic factor, vitamin B12 is not adequately
absorbed, resulting in pernicious anemia and other problems related to low
levels of vitamin B12.

Because vitamin B12 is needed by nerve cells and blood cells for them to
function properly, deficiency can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including
fatigue, shortness of breath, tingling sensations, difficulty walking, and
diarrhea.

Other causes of low levels of intrinsic factor (and thus of pernicious anemia)
include atrophic gastric mucosa, autoimmunity against gastric parietal cells,
and autoimmunity against intrinsic factor.

Absence of intrinsic factor itself is the most common cause of vitamin B12
deficiency. Intrinsic factor is produced by cells within the stomach. In adults,
the inability to make intrinsic factor can be the result of chronic gastritis or
the result of surgery to remove the stomach. The onset of the disease is slow
and may span decades.

Very rarely, infants and children are found to have been born lacking the
ability to produce effective intrinsic factor. This form of congenital
pernicious anemia is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder. (You need a
defective gene from both parents to get it.) However, most often, pernicious
anemia and other forms of megaloblastic anemia in children results from other
causes of vitamin B12 deficiency or other vitamin deficiencies.

Although a juvenile form of the disease can occur in children, pernicious anemia
usually does not appear before the age of 30. The average age at diagnosis is 60
years. In fact, one recent study revealed that nearly 2 percent of individuals
over 60 years old suffer from pernicious anemia. Furthermore, slightly more
women than men are affected. The disease can affect all racial groups, but
occurs more often among people of Scandinavian or Northern European descent.

Risk factors include a family history of pernicious anemia, Scandinavian or
Northern European descent, and a history of autoimmune endocrine disorders.
Pernicious anemia is seen in association with some autoimmune endocrine diseases
such as type 1 diabetes, hypoparathyroidism, Addison's disease, hypopituitarism,
testicular dysfunction, Graves disease, chronic thyroiditis, myasthenia gravis,
secondary amenorrhea and vitiligo.

In addition to pernicious anemia, other causes of vitamin B12 Deficiency
include:

   * Nutrition (strict vegetarians without B12 supplementation, poor diet in
infant, or poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy)
   * Infection (intestinal parasites, bacterial overgrowth)
   * Gastrointestinal disease (stomach removal surgery, celiac disease (sprue),
Crohn's disease)
   * Drugs (colchicine, neomycin, tuberculosis treatment with para amino
salicylic acid)
   * Metabolic disorders (methylmalonic aciduria, homocystinuria)

Many cells in our body need vitamin B12, including nerve cells and blood cells.
Inadequate vitamin B12 gradually affects sensory and motor nerves, causing
neurological problems to develop over time. It is important to know that the
neurological effects of vitamin B12 deficiency may be seen before anemia is
diagnosed.

The anemia also affects the gastrointestinal system and the cardiovascular
system. The following symptoms may indicate pernicious anemia:
   * shortness of breath
   * fatigue
   * pallor
   * rapid heart rate
   * loss of appetite
   * diarrhea
   * tingling and numbness of hands and feet
   * sore mouth
   * unsteady gait, especially in the dark
   * tongue problems
   * smell, impaired
   * gums, bleeding
   * positive Babinski's reflex
   * loss of deep tendon reflexes
   * personality changes, "megaloblastic madness"

Hi Debi.

Always good to know.

Even better!

Normal deterioration?  I don't recall what meds you are on.

day

I see no place in The Lupus book where he uses the term Pernicious Anemia*
but he does say that the types of anemias experienced by lupus patients
often respond to B12.  I have had friend with neurovascular symptoms that
responded very well to B12 also.  Of course, only in injection form because
it is poorly absorbed in oral doses. (this term may simply be out of vogue
and "B12 deficiency anemia" may be the replacement term?

don't know.  The only coagulation issues I'm familiar with are those related
to anti-phospholipid syndrome.  However, any disease that can affect our
blood cells in so many ways seems like it has the potential for causing
coagulation problems.

"[WBC] count can be high due to seroid therapy or inflamation."  So it
certainly could be that the lupus is inducing the high count.  I'm sorry, I
don't recall if you are on steroids.

well... that's any number of reasons.  Diet, exercise, thyroid function, and
again - if you are on steroids.

meds can cause the dryness too - Benzos, anti-histamines, muscle relaxants
(smooth (Ditropan) and striated (valium).

I would bet it is related.  Simply because I've heard of it so much in lupus
and MS patients.  I personally think I would benefit from it because I have
some neuromuscular problems.  But my levels are normal.

storms a comin'... gotta run.  hope this helps a little.

best,
kcat