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ErikaSlovakia wrote:Hi all,
I must correct an information.
I have my blood tests results in my hand. My doctor just made a little reading mistake.
My iron (Fe) in blood ist too high 29,8 not the ferritin.
My ferritin is lower than normal 10,4.
My transferin is normal 2,5 as she said last time on a phone.

I will have to see my GP. I have no clue why is my iron that high.
Erika

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/177216-overview

The gene responsible for the disease is called HFE and is located on chromosome 6. It is mutated in most individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis. HFE interacts with the transferrin receptor and causes a clear decrease in the affinity with which the receptor binds transferrin. This interaction also may modulate cellular iron uptake and decrease ferritin levels. When a mutant or nonfunctional variant of gene is present, ferritin levels are not under influence of a normal and functional HFE gene, which leads to enhanced accumulation of iron in peripheral tissues.

Findings suggestive of increased iron transport at the basolateral membrane of enterocytes in hemochromatosis have emerged from numerous studies of HFE -related hemochromatosis in humans3 and in mice.

Hepcidin, a human antimicrobial peptide synthesized in the liver,4 plays a key role in the down-regulation of iron release by enterocytes and macrophages. The absence of this new peptide is associated with severe early-onset iron-loading phenotype. It is also inappropriately low in adult-onset HFE -related disease.5
Excess iron is hazardous because it produces free radical formation. The presence of free iron in biological systems can lead to the rapid formation of damaging reactive oxygen metabolites, such as the hydroxyl radical and the superoxide radical. These can produce DNA cleavage, impaired protein synthesis, and impairment of cell integrity and cell proliferation, leading to cell injury and fibrosis.6

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/177216-overview


■Reversibility with iron removal has been reported even with development of varices, but this is more likely early in the course of liver disease.
■All patients with cirrhosis should undergo diagnostic endoscopy to document the presence of varices and to determine their risk of variceal hemorrhage. Patients at risk for variceal hemorrhage should be considered for primary prophylaxis with propranolol or nadolol.

Merlyn wrote:Erika-I am not questioning your Dr. really... okay, maybe I am a bit. If ferritin is too low, and iron in the blood is pretty high, I would not consider that particularly great/normal... what I am starting to wonder is whether these doctors look at the gestalt of the iron panels... it seems to me that things should be in balance. That iron in the blood should not be high especially in relationship to low ferritin... are you officially anemic? That is pretty low ferritin, if you are not anemic you are pretty close. It is amazing how many people say they are anemic, or have pernicious anemia... I really think we need a very large MS population tested for iron abnormalities. Do you take any kind of iron supplementation? Thanks for any answers!

Bethr wrote:How nice to have a doctor that, at least, can see no harm being done. If phlebs are all that is necessary, so long as our iron is kept at a reasonable level and not allowed down too far, we should be healthier. I just felt tired on the morning after, but no daytime sleeping from that point on. Various aches and pains moving to different parts of the body in the three days following, great energy.

Keep us updated.....It's really interesting.

I just started menstruating, so I'm feeling really well and the heart pain has gone now (this is so weird!). I am definitely a bit sleepier in the past week, I need another phleb for sure.