[History of the therapy of pernicious anemia].

Abstract

Increased blood cell regeneration in exsanguinated experimental animals treated either with liver or with aqueous liver extracts was reported by Whipple and by Jeney and Jobling, respectively. These findings stimulated Minot and Murphy to provide evidence for the efficacy of liver against anaemia in clinical studies. After oral administration of liver (45-50 g per day) for 45 patients with anaemia perniciosa improvement of the hematological status was demonstrated. Consequently, for proving the therapeutic value of liver therapy Whipple, Minot and Murphy received Nobel price in 1934. The isolation of the antianemic factor from the liver has been succeeded in 1948 and designated as vitamin B12. At the same time Lucy Wills applied yeast for the treatment of pregnant women with anemia related to undernourishment. The conclusions of this study inspired the discovery of folate. The detailed investigation of the mode of action of vitamin B12 and folate enriched our knowledge in the area of pathophysiology and extended the clinical application of these two drugs.

• Authors: András Jeney
• Journal: Orvosi hetilap (Orv Hetil) Vol. 154 Issue 44 Pg. 1754-8 (Nov 03 2013) ISSN: 0030-6002 [Print] Hungary
• Vernacular Title: Az anaemia perniciosa terápiájának története.
• PMID: 24161600 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Historical Article, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Folic Acid Antagonists
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B 12

Topics

• Anemia, Pernicious (drug therapy, history, metabolism)
• Antineoplastic Agents (history)
• Autoimmunity
• Folic Acid (history, therapeutic use)
• Folic Acid Antagonists (history)
• Folic Acid Deficiency (history)
• History, 19th Century
• History, 20th Century
• Humans
• Vitamin B 12 (history, therapeutic use)
• Vitamin B 12 Deficiency (history)