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Suggest Treatment For Hemochromatosis
Question: I am usually slightly anemic. My hct now is 35- my ferritin is 331.9 - my white count is WNL- my monocytes are double the high normal level- I have not been sick- I have inflammatory osteoarthritis and hypertension - November 2014 I was hospitalized with ischemic colitis-
my doctor gave me an iron infusion today and planned on another next week- but when I discovered my elevated ferritin level I called his office to inquire about this- his nurse said that he does not want me to come next week for the infusion but wants me to return in 4-6 weeks for additional lab work-
I don't want to wait that long but realize that today's infusion might skew my test results-
My mother and brother had Hodgkin's lymphoma- she also had stomach cancer and glop padrona multiforme-
Sorry this is so long but would like your opinion
Thanks
my doctor gave me an iron infusion today and planned on another next week- but when I discovered my elevated ferritin level I called his office to inquire about this- his nurse said that he does not want me to come next week for the infusion but wants me to return in 4-6 weeks for additional lab work-
I don't want to wait that long but realize that today's infusion might skew my test results-
My mother and brother had Hodgkin's lymphoma- she also had stomach cancer and glop padrona multiforme-
Sorry this is so long but would like your opinion
Thanks
Brief Answer:
Needs work up and management. Multiple possibilities
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. I wont say its iron deficiency as ferritin are the storehouses of iron and they are double the normal range in you. At age of 61 my primary suspicion would be of hemochromatosis as your description fits that including the joint pains and anemia. So i would advise get liver functions analysed, and if need be get a liver biopsy for that. Another primary suspicion would be osteoarthritis as arthritis of any kind leads to increased ferritin levels so that shoul dbe given a benefit of doubt too.
With your family history of hodgkin's lymphoma, i would want you to get screened for that too as that can cause raised ferritin levels too. other possibilities are of alcoholism, thalassemia trait etc can also give this raised ferratin picture.
Seek a hematologist and let them clinically correlate your symptoms as it needs a detailed management.
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and don't forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
Needs work up and management. Multiple possibilities
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. I wont say its iron deficiency as ferritin are the storehouses of iron and they are double the normal range in you. At age of 61 my primary suspicion would be of hemochromatosis as your description fits that including the joint pains and anemia. So i would advise get liver functions analysed, and if need be get a liver biopsy for that. Another primary suspicion would be osteoarthritis as arthritis of any kind leads to increased ferritin levels so that shoul dbe given a benefit of doubt too.
With your family history of hodgkin's lymphoma, i would want you to get screened for that too as that can cause raised ferritin levels too. other possibilities are of alcoholism, thalassemia trait etc can also give this raised ferratin picture.
Seek a hematologist and let them clinically correlate your symptoms as it needs a detailed management.
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and don't forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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