Picture of Pernicious Anemia

Pernicious anemia is a condition marked by immature, nonfunctional blood cells. The condition is caused by an inability to absorb vitamin B-12 due to the absence of intrinsic factor (IF) in the gastrointestinal tract. The cells are large and nucleated. The image here shows bone marrow aspirate in a patient who has untreated pernicious anemia. Two megaloblasts are visible in the middle of the slide. A megaloblastic normoblast cell is seen above. Prior to the discovery of the cause and treatment of pernicious anemia, it was fatal.