Blood test results show low in B12 & high in iron

[Vickichapman1]

My friend is on a course of B12 injections (at the moment every other day). His B12 is obviously low, but he has been told by his GP that his blood test show is iron is high, I'm confused, can anyone explain how this can be the case?

Many thanks

[ITYFIALMCTT]

I'm not sure that I understand the enquiry.

Pernicious anaemia/B12 deficiency and iron anaemia can overlap but they don't always.

[Vickichapman1 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

Sorry, I'm new to this. Iron anaemia, means a person is lacking iron doesn't it? Well my friend iron level is high, not low. So basically I'm asking can you have B12 deficiency and a high iron level, I thought that was a contradiction.

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to Vickichapman1]

No, it's not a contradiction. B12 can be known as Pernicious Anaemia (B12 deficiency isn't always due to pernicious anaemia but some people still call it this) but it's not related to iron anaemia.

That said, if people have gut absorption issues (could be a mass of reasons like Coeliac's Disease, H Pylori, particular medications) then they can have both.

But, no - it's not a contradiction. Does your friend have high but in range iron or is the level so high that it's above the usual reference range for blood levels so you're concerned about something else?

ETA: It is complex as a glance through the discussion in the comments of this post will reveal to you: healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

[Vickichapman1 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

I only know that his iron level is very high, he has been unwell for over a year now, no end of tests and nobody seemed to know what was wrong. The latest set of blood test results say he is B12 deficient and now three weeks later he has been started on a course of B12 injections, I believe it is every other day for a couple of weeks and then every three months! I don't have much information because he doesn't say much, but he suffers from severe fatigue, is very weak at times and complains that his body is hot but his legs and arms are very cold. He has had a lot of problems with headaches and eye problems, but of course any of these could be separate issues.

Thank you for taking time to reply, much appreciated.

[ITYFIALMCTT in reply to Vickichapman1]

Has your friend been investigated for familial haemochromatosis (useful to investigate when there are high serum iron levels)?

haemochromatosis.org.uk/hae...

[Vickichapman1 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT]

I wouldn't know but I will ask after I have read about it, thank you for the link.

[fbirder]

Whilst some conditions that cause low B12 can also cause low iron, it's not always the case. So it's perfectly possible to have one of them low and the other high.

[Vickichapman1 in reply to fbirder]

Thank you

[Cankita]

I have Haemochromatosis and B12 deficiency so my ferritin levels are always high unless i have venesections and my B12 levels were low for many years until I started B12 injections. Would be useful to know some actual levels as 'low' and 'high' are interpreted differently by different doctors and in different parts of the world.

Your friend may have Haemochromatosis but, much like B12 deficiency, many doctors are reluctant to test for it especially in England. Here in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland it is routinely tested as it is much more common than down south.