The blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine concentrations and serum GPCA levels in 92 GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients and 184 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were measured and compared between the two groups.
We found that 27 (29.3%), 16 (17.4%), and 27 (29.3%) of 92 GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients had hemoglobin (men < 13 g/dL and women < 12 g/dL), iron (< 60 μg/dL), and vitamin B12 (< 200 pg/mL) deficiencies, respectively. Moreover, 37 (40.2%) of 92 GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients had an abnormally high blood homocysteine level (> 12.1μM). GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients had a significantly higher frequency of hemoglobin, iron, or vitamin B12 deficiency and an abnormally high blood homocysteine level than healthy control individuals (all p < 0.001). Of 27 anemic GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients, 13 (48.2%) had pernicious anemia, five (18.5%) had iron deficiency anemia, one (3.7%) had thalassemia trait, and the remaining eight (29.6%) had normocytic anemia. Moreover, of the 92 GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients, 24 had macrocytosis, and only 13 (54.2%) of these 24 patients had pernicious anemia.
We conclude that GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients may have vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiency, and an abnormally high blood homocysteine level. In addition to pernicious anemia, GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients may sometimes have normocytic anemia or iron deficiency anemia.