Pernicious Anemia - Prognosis

Prognosis

A patient with well-treated pernicious anemia (PA) can live a healthy life, although exhausation, memory loss and other symptoms may persist depending on the stage in which the individual was diagnosed. Failure to treat can lead to severe consequences for those with severe PA. Giving rise to the its name, "pernicious," meaning fatal, patients may experience symptoms such as severe fatigue, depression, irritability, neurological damage, heart and organ failure, and even death. Having PA is not a death sentence, however, so long as it is properly maintained. Patients should regularly see their doctors for checkups and keep up with cyanocobalamin injections.