Hematinic deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia in gastric parietal cell antibody-positive or gastric and thyroid autoantibodies-negative Behcet's disease patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

Our previous study found that 9 of 63 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS)/Behcet's disease (BD) patients have serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity. This study assessed whether serum GPCA positivity or RAS/BD itself was a significant factor causing hematinic deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia in GPCA-positive RAS/BD (GPCA+RAS/BD) or gastric and thyroid autoantibodies-negative RAS/BD (Abs-RAS/BD) patients.

METHODS:

The mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 9 GPCA+RAS/BD patients, 41 Abs-RAS/BD patients, and 126 healthy control subjects.

RESULTS:

GPCA+RAS/BD patients had significantly lower mean blood Hb (for men only), iron (for men only), and vitamin B12 levels as well as a significantly higher mean serum homocysteine level than 126 healthy control subjects. Moreover, GPCA+RAS/BD patients had significantly greater frequencies of blood Hb, iron, and vitamin B12 deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia than healthy control subjects. GPCA+RAS/BD patients did have a significantly lower mean serum vitamin B12 level and a significantly higher mean serum homocysteine level as well as significantly greater frequencies of vitamin B12 deficiency and of hyperhomocysteinemia than Abs-RAS/BD patients. Moreover, Abs-RAS/BD patients did have significantly lower mean blood Hb, iron, and folic acid levels and significantly greater frequencies of blood Hb and iron deficiencies than healthy control subjects.

CONCLUSION:

The GPCA is a major factor causing vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocyteinemia in GPCA+RAS/BD patients. RAS/BD itself does play a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in both GPCA+RAS/BD and Abs-RAS/BD patients.

• Authors: Chun-Pin Chiang, Yu-Hsueh Wu, Julia Yu-Fong Chang, Yi-Ping Wang, Yang-Che Wu, Andy Sun
• Journal: Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi (J Formos Med Assoc) Vol. 118 Issue 1 Pt 2 Pg. 347-353 (Jan 2019) ISSN: 0929-6646 [Print] Singapore
• PMID: 29898820 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Hematinics
• Hemoglobins
• Folic Acid
• Iron
• Vitamin B 12

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Autoantibodies (blood)
• Behcet Syndrome (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Folic Acid (blood)
• Folic Acid Deficiency (blood)
• Hematinics
• Hemoglobins (analysis)
• Humans
• Hyperhomocysteinemia (blood)
• Iron (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Parietal Cells, Gastric (immunology)
• Stomach (immunology)
• Stomatitis, Aphthous (blood)
• Taiwan
• Thyroid Gland (immunology)
• Vitamin B 12 (blood)
• Vitamin B 12 Deficiency (blood)
• Young Adult