Iron Levels

[Lynzyc]

Hi,

Just a quick question if anyone is able to answer.

I had some blood tests done a few weeks back at my GP Practice, thought everything was fine as didn't hear back with the results but was called this morning out of the blue. I have been advised that my iron levels are high and he may need to refer me back to Christies for them to look at but he wants to do another blood test in 8 weeks first to see what is happening.

He kept telling me not to worry at this stage (which I wasn't), but wondered what this could be? Anyone had this before?

Lyndsay.

[hunter5582]

Suggest you contact your MPN care team as soon as possible rather than waiting. Better to get their input sooner rather than later. Whichever hematologist is treating your MPN would be best equipped to assess your situation. I think it best not to speculate on what is going on since this could be something as simple as a lab error. Given that possibility, I would suggest repeating the lab sooner rather than later. Even if your iron levels are not so high that it is an emergent threat, better to confirm your status sooner rather than later. It may be helpful to do a full iron panel if that was not done before. Your hematologist can best direct you on what is appropriate.

This is what a full iron panel includes.

• Serum iron. This test measures the amount of iron in your blood.

• Serum ferritin. This test measures how much iron is stored in your body. When your iron level is low, your body will pull iron out of “storage” to use.

• Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). This test tells how much transferrin (a protein) is free to carry iron through your blood. If your TIBC level is high, it means more transferrin is free because you have low iron.

• Unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC). This test measures how much transferrin isn’t attached to iron.

• Transferrin saturation. This test measures the percentage of transferrin that is attached to iron.

webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/iro...

Reference Ranges. Note that may vary by lab.

Ferritin 15.0 - 200.0 ng/mL

Iron 50.0 - 212.0 mcg/dL

Iron Binding Capacity 250.0 - 425.0 ug/dL

Iron, % saturation 20.0 - 50.0 %

Iron Binding Capacity 250.0 - 425.0 mcg/dL

Iron Binding Capacity (unsaturated) 155.0 - 355.0

Please do let us know how you get on and what you learn.

[Lynzyc in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you so much for responding.

I've emailed my consultant and will see what is said. Those bloods were done 3 weeks ago and I was at Christies for bloods yesterday so will be interesting to see what it showed.

I'll let you know what's said.

Lyndsay

[Anag]

I would definitely not wait. When I don’t get an answer, I call immediately. Don’t wait ever. People make mistakes and doctors are people. 🙂 life is too busy and we have to advocate for ourselves. 👍

[Flynn2107]

I was taking an iron supplement pill every other day to help raise my iron after phlebotomes. My iron test said I had very high iron levels but it was because I had taken the 65mg iron tablet 2 hours before the blood draw. Another iron panel the next week said I was just below normal. There is some fasting from iron supplement needed before an iron panel is done.

[Wyebird]

hi it could be quite a few things. Does he mean ferritin, haemoglobin or even a few others.

I’m not medically trained. Just take solace that they’ve recalled you and are monitoring it.

Try not to worry

[Lynzyc in reply to Wyebird]

Hi,I spoke with Christies today and transferrin and TIBC were normally? So not sure what my GP saw from the bloods 3 weeks ago but he was concerned. I've ordered a copy of the results from the GP to see what it says.

It looks as though its nothing to worry about going off my bloods at Christies which is good.

Lyndsay

[Wyebird]

fab news you can relax now

[Annula]

wow - very helpful info from Hunter 5582!