Question

mrs. kaplan is a 64 - year - old woman who complains of extreme fatigue, frequent dizzy spells, and difficulty concentrating. her blood tests reveal megaloblastic anemia and the presence of anti - intrinsic factor antibodies. mrs. kaplans physician diagnoses her with pernicious anemia, the result of an autoimmune disease that impairs her absorption of

multiple choice
vitamin b - 12
iron
folic acid
vitamin b - 6

Explanation:

Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease that affects the absorption of vitamin B - 12. Intrinsic factor is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B - 12 in the ileum. In pernicious anemia, auto - antibodies attack the parietal cells (which produce intrinsic factor) or intrinsic factor itself, leading to vitamin B - 12 malabsorption. Megaloblastic anemia (as mentioned in the patient's blood tests) is a characteristic of vitamin B - 12 deficiency (as well as folic acid deficiency, but folic acid deficiency is not typically associated with auto - antibodies against intrinsic factor). Symptoms such as fatigue, dizzy spells, and difficulty concentrating are also common in vitamin B - 12 deficiency due to its role in nervous system function and red blood cell production.

Answer:

vitamin B - 12