Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Why Is The Transferrin Saturation So Very High, While Ferritin Remain Low?
Question: I'm a 42 year old woman. My ferritin level is consistently low, but my tranferrin saturation and iron levels are consistently too high. My current levels:
Ferritin 18 (15-125); transferrin saturation 82% (17-52); fP-Fe 41.1 (9-34). My blood count and haemoglobin are within normal range. Haemoglobin 141.
My questions are:
1.Why is the transferrin saturation so very high, while ferritin remain low? What can explain this?
2.My doctor wants me to take iron supplements due to the low ferritin, but I'm hesitant since the transferrin saturation and iron levels seem to suggest iron overload. But why is the ferritin low then? Would you recommend iron supplementation due to the low ferritin, despite the transferrin saturation being consistently 82%?
Some more background information: I have a heavy menstrual flow, so I lose iron through that. At the time of the blood tests I’m not taking iron supplements for at least a week.
I also have stage 3 kidney disease and chronic metabolic acidosis, but not sure it's relevant to this iron issue.
Thank you!
Ferritin 18 (15-125); transferrin saturation 82% (17-52); fP-Fe 41.1 (9-34). My blood count and haemoglobin are within normal range. Haemoglobin 141.
My questions are:
1.Why is the transferrin saturation so very high, while ferritin remain low? What can explain this?
2.My doctor wants me to take iron supplements due to the low ferritin, but I'm hesitant since the transferrin saturation and iron levels seem to suggest iron overload. But why is the ferritin low then? Would you recommend iron supplementation due to the low ferritin, despite the transferrin saturation being consistently 82%?
Some more background information: I have a heavy menstrual flow, so I lose iron through that. At the time of the blood tests I’m not taking iron supplements for at least a week.
I also have stage 3 kidney disease and chronic metabolic acidosis, but not sure it's relevant to this iron issue.
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Hello dear. Iron supplement is not required as of now
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear.
I have gone through the details.
So such type of unusual lab picture can seldom arise in the setting of a chronic condition like kidney disease in which circulating iron is not getting stored into ferritin, which is the storage form. This leads to high circulating transferrin saturated with iron and serum iron levels.
Though there is nothing to worry, but iron supplementation is not required unless the hemoglobin drops to below normal range, in that case iron levels will come down automatically amd then supplementation will help to restore hemoglobin.
Hope you understand.
Feel free to ask further
Hello dear. Iron supplement is not required as of now
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear.
I have gone through the details.
So such type of unusual lab picture can seldom arise in the setting of a chronic condition like kidney disease in which circulating iron is not getting stored into ferritin, which is the storage form. This leads to high circulating transferrin saturated with iron and serum iron levels.
Though there is nothing to worry, but iron supplementation is not required unless the hemoglobin drops to below normal range, in that case iron levels will come down automatically amd then supplementation will help to restore hemoglobin.
Hope you understand.
Feel free to ask further
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T
Thank you so much for your knowledgeable reply!
Is the high transferrin saturation and iron level harmful to the body in the long term, for example the liver and kidneys?
Would you recommend testing for hemochromatosis based on the consistently high transferrin saturation level or does the low ferritin exclude this?
Thank you!
Is the high transferrin saturation and iron level harmful to the body in the long term, for example the liver and kidneys?
Would you recommend testing for hemochromatosis based on the consistently high transferrin saturation level or does the low ferritin exclude this?
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Hello dear. Levels are not too high to cause damage.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. So the iron levels are not too high to pose damage unless elevated to 5times of upper normal limit. Moreover, as ferritin is low, it does not warrant investigations for hemochromatosis.
Kind regards
Hello dear. Levels are not too high to cause damage.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. So the iron levels are not too high to pose damage unless elevated to 5times of upper normal limit. Moreover, as ferritin is low, it does not warrant investigations for hemochromatosis.
Kind regards
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Saisudha Kotla
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
