Test results - haemochromatosis with iron deficiency?

[tnefeh]

A few years ago I had blood tests which showed high iron levels so my doc suspected Haemochromatosis. I had the genetic testing which showed I had the gene mutation. I used to get blood drawn to treat it and bring down my iron levels.

However, recently I had blood tests which showed low ferritin levels of 9 and was diagnosed with iron deficiency. I've been taking ferrous sulphate for 6 weeks and had everything retested. I'm so confused with the results. Can anyone explain to me what this means? I've marked the abnormal or borderline results in bold.

Serum ferritin - 33 ng/mL - reference range 10 - 120 - prior to iron tablets level was 9

Serum transferrin - 2.13 g/L - reference range 2.50 - 3.80

Serum iron level - 27 umol/L - reference range 10 - 25

Transferrin saturation index - 48.7 % - not sure of reference range but marked abnormal

Neutrophil count - 1.90 10*9/L - reference range 2.0 - 7.5

Monocyte count - 0.20 10*9/L - reference range 0.20 - 0.80

Basophil count - 0.00 10*9/L - reference range 0.0 - 0.10

Haemoglobin estimation - 129 g/L - reference range 115 - 165

Total white cell count - 4.1 10*9/L - reference range 4.0 - 11.0

Platelet count - 247 10*9/L - reference range 150 - 450

Red blood cell (RBC) count - 4.19 10*12/L - reference range 3.80 - 5.50

Haematocrit - 0.388 - reference range 0.37 - 0.48

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) - 92.7 fL - reference range 80 - 100

Mean corpusc. haemoglobin(MCH) - 30.8 pg - reference range 26.5 - 31.5 - this was previously always abnormally high and has lowered since taking the iron tablets

Lymphocyte count - 1.90 10*9/L - reference range 1.50 - 4.00

Eosinophil count - 0.10 10*9/L - reference range 0.04 - 0.40

Large unstained cells - 0.10 10*9/L - reference range 0.00 - 0.44

Any input, suggestions or advice would be appreciated! thank you!

[radd]

tnefeh,

Gosh, I always wondered if anyone unknowingly took levels too low and had to supplement iron. How awful for you. Did you supplement iron based solely on ferritin results or was T/S % and haemoglobin considered also?

With regard to your labs, they are good. I aim for ferritin and T/S % of 50. Your FBC is good and RBC’s and haemoglobin are good showing iron is working normally 👍

[mumskull]

I think they were marked abnormally due to your TSat percentage being on the higher end for a normal person. But because you have genetic haematomachrosis this would be an ok range. Although my Hematologist recomends it to be at 20% after treatment. My TSat level was at 87% for a long time before GP noticed. I would keep an eye on your TSat and get retested in a month just to be sure.

[Autumn_Leaves]

There could be another reason for your iron levels falling so low which may have nothing to do with haemochromatosis. In people without haemochromatosis, particularly in men and in post menopausal women, iron deficiency anaemia could mean that you are losing blood from somewhere. Unfortunately, these red flags are harder to detect in people with haemochromatosis because our iron levels tend to run higher anyway.

I would suggest asking your GP for a a faecal occult blood test (stool sample) in case there is any bleeding from the GI tract. You also need to consider a bleeding stomach ulcer. If you have any GI symptoms of any kind, upper or lower GI, or unintentional weight loss, see your GP. If you are a post menopausal woman then be mindful of any bleeding and have it checked out if you spot any blood at all. It might be an idea for a haematologist to look over your blood test results as they are pretty good at spotting irregularities that a GP might overlook.

Just because you have haemochromatosis, it doesn’t mean you are exempt from developing another condition. If these low iron levels are not normal for you then there could be something else going on.