Transferrin sat

[patmackfin]

I recently had more blood work done ahead of my rheumatolgy appointment in Jan.Do any of you understand transferrin sat? Mine is 55, ( high im told). I just started taking iron supplements in September as I was told my ferritin was low.Will quitting the Iron bring it back down? I have to have it rechecked in 3 months.

Thank you

[LUPUSadmin]

Hi Patmackfin,

Thanks for your post. It's worth noting that no one at LUPUS UK is medically trained, and as such we can't offer you any medical advice. Similarly, HealthUnlocked should never be a replacement for you GP. You should ask your GP to explain your medical results.

Has your GP said anything about these results at all?

George

[patmackfin in reply to LUPUSadmin]

Hi George,

My GP texted me the results saying that my transferrin sat was high and should be tested again in 3 months.She said that generally everything else was good.She did these bloods in readiness for my Jan appointment with the rheumatologist.

i guess I just have to wait on the experts.

Thanks

Patricia

[Chris21]

As george said, only the medical profession can explain your results because we all have different numbers come up for instance when I have mine taken it always flags up esr as extremely high and the gp calls me and I then ask him to compare previous results to which he thens says yes it's ok for me and that the surgery have to call when something is flagged up in case the patient is worried.

I wouldn't stop taking the iron tablets until you've spoken to either your gp or consultant and see what they advice.

💐chris

[patmackfin]

Thank you Chris 21, I'm so confused. I didnt think Iron was so complicated.I only started suplementing in the last few months because I was told it was low( although not Anemic).I know high Iron is dangerous. I will call the doctor next week.

Thanks again

[TomWillingham in reply to patmackfin]

Iron supplements should be accompanied with folic acid and vitamin C to better facilitate iron uptake. Check with your doctor. The normal recommeded levels of iron is 60 mg as Iron, 0.4 mg folic acid, 500 mg vitamin C.

[patmackfin]

.... Its probably going hand in hand with my B12 deficiency.I think I have that under control now.A lot of trial and error.Hopefull the rheumatologist can shed more light on the situation in Jan.

Thanks again

[TomWillingham]

Transferrin saturation is reported as a percentage of transferrin that is saturated with iron. Serum iron levels and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) are two tests done on the blood, and their results are used to calculate this value. A serum iron level in the range of 60-170 micrograms/deciliter (mcg/dL) or 10-30 micromoles/liter (umol/L) is considered normal. The TIBC refers to the amount of iron that would be needed to bind all of the transferrin in the blood.

Normal values of TIBC range from 240-450 mcg/dL (43-80.6 umol/L). The serum iron level divided by the total iron binding capacity multiplied by 100 gives a transferrin saturation level. Calculated percentages normally range from 15% to 50%. Patients with anemia would have a percentage that is low, while those patients with hemochromatosis would have a high value.

wisegeek.org/what-is-transf...

[patmackfin]

Hi Tom,

I had to read that a few times.I am finding it hard ti get my head around this on top of everything that's been happening the past few months.

So..question no.1 is this high value (transferrin sat)because of/effected by me taking Iron supplements?

I am awaiting a Rheumy apt to rule out Lupus.I have a lot of the symptoms as well as a high ANA(1:640 titre)ENA antigens etc.

One of the criteria for diagnosing Lupus is also Megaloblastic anemia being present.Question 2. Could this be attributed to that? Does this look like Megaloblastic anemia?

By the way I only started taking Iron supplements in October.I had blood taken in August which said that an Iron overload should be looked into(it never was).I have since left that doctor.

Question 3.Is hemochromatosis reversible?

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me get my head around this.

on 24th august 2015 my blood tests said this:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

serum vit B12 >2000 (on weekly b12 injections)

serum folate >20(H) (taking 5mg folic acid at the time,now on 400ug)

serum ferritin 31.2 ng/ml (wasn't taking supplements at this time)

comprehensive assessment of Iron overload requires Iron studies

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks SO much

[patmackfin]

Test Results Date 09/12/2015

TestResult

Unit Status Lower Upper

C Reactive Protein 1.8mg/L 0 5.00

Iron 30 umol/L 9.00 32.00 Transferrin 2.2 g/L 2.00 3.60 Calculated TIBC 55umol/L 53.00 95.00

Transferrin Sat 54(H)% 19.00 43.00

Hi again,

My doctor emailed these to me today (with reference ranges) and told me NOT to supplement any more Iron until we retest in 3 months.

She said that my actual iron level is at the higher end of normal (30) and my Haemoglobin is normal (13.5) so she doesn't think I need iron supplements.Also that my Ferritin level is fine from the result I had forwarded to her.(below)

AUGUST RESULTS WERE:

Folate >20

Serum Ferritin 31.2 ng/ml

Serum B12 >2000 (I was on weekly b12 injections now on 2 weekly)

ALSO STATING:"comprehensive assessment of Iron overload requires Iron studies"..which were never done by the way.

DAILY I take Omega 3,6&9(Udos choice),magnesium,B complex,Vit D and folic acid 400ug

WHAT is going on with my blood does anyone know?

First B12 deficiency, High titer ANA(1:640) low level anti ENA(0,2) to a bunch of things,and now possibly hemochromatosis.(?)

Are these things connected ?

Can high Transferrin Sat be reduced by ingesting less Iron,or is it a problem ?

Sorry to bother you guys on Christmas week but this is kind of consuming me at the moment.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH'......... and "Merry Christmas" folks