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Should I Be Concerned About High Ferritin Level And Hemochromatosis?
Question: My last two ferritin tests came back at 341 and 368 (lab flagged high as 322). They seemed to have stabalized here.
They previously were 575,448, 535 over a 6 week span suggesting an acute phase response at those levels.
The values came down on their own. No venesections.
My question is is it possible to have a ferratin in the 341-368 range and that # be actually reflective of stored iron as a 42 year old caucasion male with a TIBC that has ranged between 261-327, iron between 108-128 and TIBC averaging 39% rather than an acute phase response?
My ESR came back at 2mm/hr, CRP was <.4 and ANA neg. Tested negative for all hepatitis and had negative abdominal US. I tested negative for the hemachromatosis gene and have a healthy BMI. My HDL choloesterol is always low but no other metabolic syndrome levels and i dont drink. I do eat a high iron diet and have been for about 10 years with plenty of heme sources and vitamin c but no supplemental iron.
Could it just be the way my body stores iron from the approx 20-30g of iron i eat per day?
They previously were 575,448, 535 over a 6 week span suggesting an acute phase response at those levels.
The values came down on their own. No venesections.
My question is is it possible to have a ferratin in the 341-368 range and that # be actually reflective of stored iron as a 42 year old caucasion male with a TIBC that has ranged between 261-327, iron between 108-128 and TIBC averaging 39% rather than an acute phase response?
My ESR came back at 2mm/hr, CRP was <.4 and ANA neg. Tested negative for all hepatitis and had negative abdominal US. I tested negative for the hemachromatosis gene and have a healthy BMI. My HDL choloesterol is always low but no other metabolic syndrome levels and i dont drink. I do eat a high iron diet and have been for about 10 years with plenty of heme sources and vitamin c but no supplemental iron.
Could it just be the way my body stores iron from the approx 20-30g of iron i eat per day?
Brief Answer:
Nothing to worry about hemochromatosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.
Your ferritin level is slightly high but in correlation with other factors it doesn't look serious.
It is acute phase protein also but your ESR and CRP are normal. So it is not increased due to acute response.
Your hemochromatosis gene is normal and Ultrasound is also normal with normal iron level. So in my opinion it is due to normal variations or genetic predisposition and not likely due to hemochromatosis.
But still in my opinion you should check your ferritin level after 3 months.
Right now no need to worry. Just be relaxed.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.
Nothing to worry about hemochromatosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question.
I can understand your concern.
Your ferritin level is slightly high but in correlation with other factors it doesn't look serious.
It is acute phase protein also but your ESR and CRP are normal. So it is not increased due to acute response.
Your hemochromatosis gene is normal and Ultrasound is also normal with normal iron level. So in my opinion it is due to normal variations or genetic predisposition and not likely due to hemochromatosis.
But still in my opinion you should check your ferritin level after 3 months.
Right now no need to worry. Just be relaxed.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
So it is possible That my ferritin level is just normal for me and could be due to the way my body stores iron considering my values rather than something serious like an unknown cancer?
Is it possible to get levels in the 300 or 400s or even low 500s with normal transferrin saturation, low normal TIBC and a diet Rich in iron without any inflammatory cause or raised TS%, hemachromotosis gene? Have you seen this in any patients?
Also, you can have a genetic predisposition to store more iron/have high ferritin without it being a known gene like the known hemachromotosis gene?
Levels like mine are seen in patients without the HFE gene but still can be a genetic iron metabolism cause?
Thanks Dr!
Is it possible to get levels in the 300 or 400s or even low 500s with normal transferrin saturation, low normal TIBC and a diet Rich in iron without any inflammatory cause or raised TS%, hemachromotosis gene? Have you seen this in any patients?
Also, you can have a genetic predisposition to store more iron/have high ferritin without it being a known gene like the known hemachromotosis gene?
Levels like mine are seen in patients without the HFE gene but still can be a genetic iron metabolism cause?
Thanks Dr!
Brief Answer:
Yes, I have seen a few patients like you.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear...
Thanks for following up. I can understand your concern.
It is possible that it is due some genetic predisposition. And level is normal for you. And nothing to worry about unknown cancer. All values like you are seen sometimes without hemochromatosis gene also.
In my opinion, there is nothing serious like cancer. So just be relaxed.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me.
I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using HealthcareMagic.
Wish you a very good health.
Yes, I have seen a few patients like you.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear...
Thanks for following up. I can understand your concern.
It is possible that it is due some genetic predisposition. And level is normal for you. And nothing to worry about unknown cancer. All values like you are seen sometimes without hemochromatosis gene also.
In my opinion, there is nothing serious like cancer. So just be relaxed.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me.
I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using HealthcareMagic.
Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you dr, so my levels are seen in regular patients without illness yes?
Could the fact that ive consumed more iron through diet than the average person with high vitamin C foods and mixing heme/non heme at most meals have contributed to a high storage iron by 42? Ive been eating meals likedark meat chicken and sometimes beef with beans and brocolli many times per day for about 7/8 years. I probably consume 20-30mg of iron daily.
Could the fact that ive consumed more iron through diet than the average person with high vitamin C foods and mixing heme/non heme at most meals have contributed to a high storage iron by 42? Ive been eating meals likedark meat chicken and sometimes beef with beans and brocolli many times per day for about 7/8 years. I probably consume 20-30mg of iron daily.
Brief Answer:
Yes, it is seen in the regular person without illness.
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear...
I can understand your concern.
Yes. It is seen in regular patient without illness.
You are taking high iron but it is not the only reason for high ferritin. Because high iron more then required is either not absorbed from intestines or it is excreted. But in some patient, it is stored in form of high ferritin without any illness due to some genetic predisposition.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer.
Thanks for using HealthcareMagic.
Wish you a very good health.
Yes, it is seen in the regular person without illness.
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear...
I can understand your concern.
Yes. It is seen in regular patient without illness.
You are taking high iron but it is not the only reason for high ferritin. Because high iron more then required is either not absorbed from intestines or it is excreted. But in some patient, it is stored in form of high ferritin without any illness due to some genetic predisposition.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any doubts then feel free to ask me. I will be happy to answer.
Thanks for using HealthcareMagic.
Wish you a very good health.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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