Sky high transferrin but zero transferrin saturation

[huneypie]

A recent post got me wondering about my own levels. The weird numbers are below:

H Transferrin 999g/L (2.0-3.4)
L Transferrin saturation 0% (20-60)
L Serum iron 8 umol/L (12-27)

FYI I did see a hematologist and he said that transfusions weren't needed as I wasn't anemic (the NHS likes to wait until there's something to treat rather than prevent issues).

I take 420mg ferrous furmarate with 1 60mg Tender Iron as I get cramps with any more iron (I can tolerate 2 Tender iron without the ferrous furmarate).

I feel OK for the most part and was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the above. TIA.

 

[Parousia]

Did he have an explanation as to what's going on? That's clearly not normal! Do you have haematology results?

 

[MajorMom]

That looks like iron deficiency to me.

 

[huneypie]

Did he have an explanation as to what's going on? That's clearly not normal!

Nope, nothing. He didn't even know what Carbonyl iron was.

 

[huneypie]

That looks like iron deficiency to me.

I'll mention it to Mr Patel when I see him in a couple of weeks, but just wondering if anyone had any pearls I could go armed with.

 

[Parousia]

A recent post got me wondering about my own levels. The weird numbers are below:

H Transferrin 999g/L (2.0-3.4)
L Transferrin saturation 0% (20-60)
L Serum iron 8 umol/L (12-27)

FYI I did see a hematologist and he said that transfusions weren't needed as I wasn't anemic (the NHS likes to wait until there's something to treat rather than prevent issues).

I take 420mg ferrous furmarate with 1 60mg Tender Iron as I get cramps with any more iron (I can tolerate 2 Tender iron without the ferrous furmarate).

I feel OK for the most part and was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the above. TIA.

Do you have a number for your Ferritin level?

 

[Parousia]

Your Ferritin levels would be useful to know, because that would show how much iron is stored in your tissue. But from what I have read, Transferrin binds to iron in order to carry it through the bloodstream to various parts of your body. Your numbers are saying that there is no iron being bound to your Transferrin, which is why your body is making more Transferrin, in an attempt to bind to your iron stores. Here is a reasonably understandable link: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-transferrin-saturation.htm

I don't know exactly how he defines anaemia, but your iron levels are clearly low. I would be pushing for some answers/action!

Edited to correct mistyping!

 

[huneypie]

Serum ferritin is 57 ng/mL (12-195).

 

[huneypie]

The notes on the blood work say I'm a "Post Gastric Bypass" patient... I wonder if I can use that to somehow make a case, ie those sorts of deficiencies would be less problematic to an RNYer than a DSer and that I'm not a Gastric Bypass patient... probably can't, but ya never know.

 

[Elizabeth N.]

You could mention that all but a few centimeters of your duodenum were bypassed for food and that you therefore have minimal absorption of oral iron.

It's also not a transfusion you're looking for, it's INfusions.

 

[huneypie]

Infusions - got that. I'll see what my consultant says later this month as my PCP does actually pay attention when he writes letters as they can't ignore what a specialist says.

 

[DianaCox]

I think you need to have your labs redrawn and rerun - this makes no sense whatsoever: H Transferrin 999g/L (2.0-3.4)

999 g is a KILOGRAM of the protein tranferrin PER LITER - that isn't even possible that your entire body has anything like that amount in your WHOLE body, much less can that amount be dissolved in a liter of blood.

Looking around online to check the units, the normal range is 204–360 mg/dL. That is 2.0 - 3.6 g/L, which is still a hefty amount. But I can't imagine even 99 g/L is possible. You're either missing a decimal point somewhere, or that number is a default that reflects a bad test.

 

[huneypie]

Thanks, that sounds like a sensible explanation. I'll check my results when I get them done again in a couple of weeks' time.

 

[Parousia]

I think you need to have your labs redrawn and rerun - this makes no sense whatsoever: H Transferrin 999g/L (2.0-3.4)

999 g is a KILOGRAM of the protein tranferrin PER LITER - that isn't even possible that your entire body has anything like that amount in your WHOLE body, much less can that amount be dissolved in a liter of blood.

Looking around online to check the units, the normal range is 204–360 mg/dL. That is 2.0 - 3.6 g/L, which is still a hefty amount. But I can't imagine even 99 g/L is possible. You're either missing a decimal point somewhere, or that number is a default that reflects a bad test.

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. It looks like an error. Odd that the doctor didn't comment on it.

 

[huneypie]

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. It looks like an error. Odd that the doctor didn't comment on it.

I don't have the paper work in front of me now, but the comment was something like see PCP who in turn referred me to the hema.