A link between asthenia, pallor, and jaundice

A 45 year old white man presented to the emergency department with progressively worsening weakness and chest discomfort on moderate intensity physical activity over the past two months. He also reported paleness and “yellowish eyes” in the past month. He had a history of anxiety, treated with alprazolam as needed.

At presentation, his vital signs were normal. On physical examination he had mild generalised pallor, scleral icterus, and tender non-painful hepatomegaly.

He was admitted to the internal medicine ward for further evaluation.

Laboratory studies showed haemoglobin 70 g/L (reference range 13-17), mean corpuscular volume 111.5 fL (83-101), haematocrit 19.4% (40-50%), leucocyte count 3.3×10⁹/L (4-10), platelet count 151×10⁹/L (150-450), reticulocyte production index 0.52 (>2), lactate dehydrogenase 1460 U/L (125-220), total bilirubin 35.92 μmol/L (5.13-20.52), direct bilirubin 11.97 μmol/L (1.71-8.55), haptoglobin <0.07 g/L (0.30-2), vitamin B₁₂ 57.55 pmol/L (156-672), ferritin 177 ng/mL (50-250), and folic acid 26.74 nmol/L (>12.24). The peripheral blood smear showed macrocytosis and hypersegmented neutrophils.

Antibodies against parietal cells were positive; Coombs test and anti-intrinsic factor antibodies were negative.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed atrophic gastritis of the body and fundus. Staining for Helicobacter pylori was negative (fig 1⇓). Biopsy confirmed the presence of type A atrophic gastritis with moderate intestinal metaplasia.