Pernicious Anaemia

[Libbyandgwen]

I have noticed several references to this in previous postings.

My husband has written one book about Pernicious Anaemia, and I have recently shown him some of the postings on this site.

In the research for part of his second book he is interested to know of any ancient family history and deaths associated with Pernicious Anaemia (or the American spelling of Anemia), and the area of the country that they occurred. 

He would change any names if refering to any of your stories, (unless of course you wanted the real names mentioned.)

Mant thanks.

[Billyblue]

How ancient?  And what country is he interested in?

Dawn M

[Libbyandgwen]

This country mainly and as far back as anyone has details.

Thanks.

[Libbyandgwen]

Sorry, this country means UK, I only just realised how vague my answer was !

[Billyblue]

I'm wondering how aware people would have been, hundreds of years ago, of pernicious anaemia and its symptoms and that it could have caused death?

Not sure when they discovered Vit.B12 keeps it in check.

Also, whereas (I believe) its prevalence increases with age, in the dim dark ages people may have put down the general decline and symptoms as just being part of old age?

(My dad developed it at around 80, and I discovered at around 65 that I have it too.)

Dawn M

[Libbyandgwen]

Hi.
The vitamin was not discovered until 1946, but the actual  condition was known about and diagnosed in 1824, so we were looking for stories and diagnosis from then on.
Thanks for your reply.

[Ashgard]

Don't know if this is of any help.  My grandmother (b.1886) was diagnosed with P.A. in 1950.  She was prescribed chopped, raw liver , which she ate mixed in salads.  She had a hard life, brought up six children and lived to be 83.  Though quite healthy she was always very pale.

[Viktoria]

My daughter has this, she is aged 45.
One of my mother`s sisters  supposedly , had it (had to eat raw liver etc.Died aged 16 1910) and my mother- in- law too but she died recently aged over 100!
These people live(d) in theManchester area.
My niece , daughter of my husband`s sister and  granddaughter to mother-in-law is having tests. She is 51, also M/c area.

My Greatgrandmother (father`s side) had pernicious anaemia but had also had a stroke. she died  in 1905. She was born in 1844 in Pinchbeck Fen Lincolnshire but died in Manchester.                         Further details on request

When my daughter was finally diagnosed they had asked me our family health history and said that although not hereditary it did seem to run in families.
                                                                  Viktoria.

[Carmella]

Hi

My Great Grandfather & Great Uncle both had P.A. as reasons for death on their death certificates. 

They were cousins who hailed from the Notts/Yorks border in England.

Gt Gf died aged 77yrs in the 1960s.  His GP had long recommended (cooked) liver. 
Gt U died of it aged 31yrs in 1910. 

How unusual was it to die young of P.A.....?
Gt U would seem to have been healthy enough to be a builder, and he married 3 yrs previously leaving a widow & 2yr old son.

C