Anti-parietal cell antibodies are associated with which condition?

• A. Pernicious anemia
• B. Autoimmune hepatitis
• C. Celiac disease
• D. Hemochromatosis

Answer: (A)

Anti-parietal cell antibodies point to autoimmune gastritis where the immune system attacks the gastric parietal cells. When these cells are damaged, intrinsic factor production drops, impairing vitamin B12 absorption and leading to pernicious anemia with megaloblastic anemia and potential neurologic symptoms. That link—parietal cell destruction causing B12 deficiency—is the classic association, making pernicious anemia the best answer.

The other conditions involve different autoimmune targets or pathophysiologies (autoimmune hepatitis involves liver-related antibodies, celiac disease involves anti-tTG/anti-endomysial antibodies, and hemochromatosis stems from HFE gene mutations).