HFPEF and Iron Deficiency

[series1]

I have been doing a bit of research ( again ) and I came across this in the British Medical Journal. openheart.bmj.com/content/6...

It relates to Iron Deficiency in HFPEF. it seems around 50 - 60 % of HFPEF patients are ID. The problem is that the missing iron cannot be replaced by the oral route, no amount of pills or spinach will replace the missing iron. So intravenous iron is the only way. I have also learned that iron plays a very important role in HF and may even help repair some of the damage.

I will be asking if I have ever been tested for iron deficiency, and if so the results. I am not sure if iron levels are routinely checked in HFPEF patients, does anyone know? If mine hasn't been checked I will be asking for it ASAP. If it is refused I might have to go for private tests, I consider it so important.

[series1]

Thanks Jo, I agree your level is towards the "low" end, I will be happier if mine is above 100. I will ask the GP for a test when I have had my cardioversion done (18th Sept). I will also be asking for Dapagliflozin after reading the trial results.

[Jalia]

I've just had my ferritin levels tested again..came back as 16ng/ml and acceptable range quoted as 15 --200. I'm taking ferrous fumarate daily which will hopefully bring it up to about 30

. My gastro consultant had said that he would like to see it up to 100 but my GP told me that he rarely sees this. My low levels due to slow seepage of blood from anticoagulant .

I certainly experience more tachycardia breathlessness and tiredness when this low.

[Jalia]

Yes Jo....210mg per tablet.

[series1 in reply to Jalia]

The report I read was saying that the oral route ( tablets) doesn't work with HF patients, don't know why but they were saying that intravenous was the way that worked.

[francesw47 in reply to series1]

oh so interesting. I am in early stages of being diagnosed with HF. This article really was uncomfortably accurate. Thanks for posting. I am due to be seen in HF clinic for first time in early October with raised BNP, preserved EF and...low iron levels. Anaemia was put down to recent surgery, and it has improved, but its still low and was for some time before surgery. I'll ask HF nurses about this when we finally meet.

[series1 in reply to francesw47]

I have found that sometimes you have to make a fuss to get the right treatment, and I will be pushing for iron intravenously . Good luck with your clinic appointment, make a list of questions, and write the answers down.

[series1]

I just phoned my doc. well to be precise I entered the lottery and won a phone call from one of 8 docs! He had not heard of the connection between Dapagliflozin and HF but was able to tell me my Ferritin level is 54 and is "in the normal range", I now await a phone call about the Dapagliflozin when he has done a bit of research.

[series1 in reply to series1]

From research (and from my GP) ferritin level should be not less than 100. I have been advised to ask the cardiologist why I am not having iron intravenously. I suspect many of us will be in the same boat. There are improvements in QOL, and symptoms can be lessened by having sufficient ferritin level. Has anyone actually had intravenous iron?