A doctor is treating a patient who has some form of anemia. First, the doctor tries to give the patient extra vitamins that contain iron, to no effect. There is no evidence of lead poisoning. The doctor tries an injection of vitamin B₁₂, and the anemia is under control. What type of anemia did the patient have?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the patient did not respond to iron supplements, but did respond to a vitamin B12 injection, suggests that they had pernicious anemia, which is caused by a deficiency in intrinsic factor, a protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B12.

A Doctor Is Treating a Patient Who Has Some Form