Iron saturation raised

[Kelbly]

Hi I had various bloods taken recently. After looking at my iron levels they were slightly raised.

I’m not diagnosed with haemochromatosis but this was the closet place I could find to post my query!

I just wondered if this can be normal?! Or should I get my doctor to look in to it - he said it was fine - but lab have put it’s high.

Her are the results

Serum iron tests

Serum iron level 28.0 umol/L [10.0 - 28.0]

UIBC 29 umol/L [12.5 - 55.5]

Suggest repeat if the patient has had contrast medium within the last

week.

Percentage iron saturation 49 % [15.0 - 40.0]

Above high reference limit

If there is no explanation for raised Iron saturation, exclude haemoch

romatosis

[radd]

Kelbly,

Welcome to our forum,

I don’t know where your percentage iron saturation 'range' has come from but the 49% is correct as we find this result is by adding S/I to UIBC to derive TIBC, which we then (S/I ÷ TIBC) x 100 👩‍🎓😁.

Normal saturation percentages are usually between 20-45% so yours is just above what is considered a healthy level, and corresponds with your high serum iron. If you are supplementing iron you will need to stop as excess iron is toxic.

As your results now stand you probably won't be offered further investigation but if this was me I would wait 3-6 months and retest, even if you have to use private labs . You don’t have a present ferritin result but if a future test showed elevated levels with this high saturation, it would be wise to discuss genetic testing for haemochromotosis with your GP or ask for a referral so you can access venesection if needed to reduce iron levels.

Iron behaves in strange ways sometimes and it may be that your levels naturally reduce to a more normal amount if what has been influencing is reversed.

[Kelbly in reply to radd]

Hi thanks for your reply. The range came from the lab where the blood was tested. I don’t take any supplements/iron - I have a telephone consultation on Monday as I have had abnormal lupus screening results. So I might mention it to the doctor then.

But they have marked the results normal but the lab but them abnormal. So that’s what got me asking.