Pernicious Anaemia Awareness Week - "Needless Suffering Must Stop"

Main Category: Blood / Hematology
Article Date: 18 Nov 2008 - 2:00 PST

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"Many patients of Pernicious Anaemia are being under-treated and are suffering needlessly" says Martyn Hooper, Executive Chairman of the Pernicious Anaemia Society.

Pernicious Anaemia affects half a million people in the U.K. and is treated by injecting the sufferer with Vitamin B12. "Many patients need more regular injections than the usually prescribed three-monthly treatment. Some patients' doctors are happy to let the patient devise their own individual treatment regime, but other doctors refuse to sanction more frequent injections and this causes needless suffering" he says.

Mr. Hooper explained that the injection is only available on prescription in the U.K. and often patients visit mainland Europe or North America where the vials can be bought over the counter in pharmacies. "They then learn to self -inject or get a family member to inject them without the knowledge or consent of their family doctor" say Mr. Hooper.

Patients who need more frequent injections, but are unable to receive them, suffer from extreme lethargy and tiredness, irritability, mood swings and lack of concentration. "Some patients live just one month out of every three - some for as many as forty years" says Martyn. "The injection costs pennies and it is impossible to overdose on the teatment as it is a water based protein that is excreted in urine"he says.

Source
Martyn Hooper
The Pernicious Anaemia Society