What type of anemia is associated with chronic atrophic gastritis?

Chronic atrophic gastritis is a condition marked by the inflammation and atrophy of the gastric mucosa, often leading to the loss of gastric cells, including parietal cells, which produce intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is essential for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the intestines. When intrinsic factor is deficient due to the loss of parietal cells, the result can be pernicious anemia, a specific type of megaloblastic anemia characterized by vitamin B12 deficiency.

Pernicious anemia is classified as an autoimmune disorder in many cases, where the immune system attacks the gastric mucosa and affects the cells that produce intrinsic factor. Consequently, the lack of intrinsic factor leads to impaired absorption of vitamin B12, which is critical for DNA synthesis in red blood cell production. This deficiency results in a reduction of properly formed red blood cells, manifesting as anemia.

While other forms of anemia exist, such as ineffective erythropoiesis, iron deficiency anemia, and hemolytic anemia, they do not directly correlate with the impairment in vitamin B12 absorption associated with chronic atrophic gastritis. Therefore, pernicious anemia is specifically linked to this condition through the mechanisms described.