What Is Pernicious Anemia?
Reviewed: Dr. Mera
8. Neurologic symptoms
Left untreated pernicious anemia can lead to nerve damage. One of the most common neurologic symptoms reported by people with pernicious anemia is paresthesia, a burning or tingling sensation that is commonly experienced in the extremities but is painless.
Patients with this condition can also present with weakness, an unsteady gait or manner of walking, and clumsiness. These symptoms are due to the degeneration of the insulating sheath around the nerves (myelin) and the loss of nerve fibers in the spinal cord and brain. The elderly can also exhibit symptoms (memory loss, irritability, and personality changes) that suggest dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
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