Can being long term anaemic cause graves disease

[debbiejoyce]

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There does not appear to be any agreed cause of Grave's Disease. Lots of ideas and suggestions.

There are several forms of anaemia. Can I safely assume that you mean iron deficiency anaemia?

If so, there are many, many people who are deficient in iron - a lot are long term iron deficient. And only a relatively small number get Graves Disease. So even if there is some form of association, it cannot be described as the cause.

Why are you asking in this way? It suggests that you think it might be a cause.

Rod

[debbiejoyce]

yes i am deficient in iron, i have been quite a lot really prior to me having hyperthyroidisim. I dont know what type it is but it is quite severe. The consultant just said to me where are you bleeding from and put me on iron tablets, he has also ordered a camera into my stomach and other tests. I am waiting for a total thyroidectomy and the surgeon wont do this until the anaemia is sorted out. i just seem to have had anaemia longer than i have had graves and wondered if it could cause it xx

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to debbiejoyce]

If you use the Reply to this then the person you are responding to gets an alert!

The paper below says there is an odd issue where iron deficiency is associated with Graves - and may be caused by the Graves rather than the other way around.

It might be useful for you to print this and ask your endo (or GP) if it makes sense to them. The full paper is freely available on-line.

J Thyroid Res. 2012;2012:768019. doi: 10.1155/2012/768019. Epub 2011 Nov 1.

Atypical clinical manifestations of graves' disease: an analysis in depth.

Hegazi MO, Ahmed S.

Source

Medical Department, Al Adan Hospital, P.O. Box 262, Hadiya 52853, Kuwait.

Abstract

Over the past few decades, there has been an increase in the number of reports about newly recognized (atypical or unusual) manifestations of Graves' disease (GD), that are related to various body systems. One of these manifestations is sometimes the main presenting feature of GD. Some of the atypical manifestations are specifically related to GD, while others are also similarly seen in patients with other forms of hyperthyroidism. Lack of knowledge of the association between these findings and GD may lead to delay in diagnosis, misdiagnosis, or unnecessary investigations. The atypical clinical presentations of GD include anemia, vomiting, jaundice, and right heart failure. There is one type of anemia that is not explained by any of the known etiological factors and responds well to hyperthyroidism treatment. This type of anemia resembles anemia of chronic disease and may be termed GD anemia. Other forms of anemia that are associated with GD include pernicious anemia, iron deficiency anemia of celiac disease, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Vomiting has been reported as a presenting feature of Graves' disease. Some cases had the typical findings of hyperthyroidism initially masked, and the vomiting did not improve until hyperthyroidism has been detected and treated. Hyperthyroidism may present with jaundice, and on the other hand, deep jaundice may develop with the onset of overt hyperthyroidism in previously compensated chronic liver disease patients. Pulmonary hypertension is reported to be associated with GD and to respond to its treatment. GD-related pulmonary hypertension may be so severe to produce isolated right-sided heart failure that is occasionally found as the presenting manifestation of GD.

PMID:

22132347

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/124...

Rod