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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Chronic Cough, Blood Tests Showed Low Ferritin, Chest X-ray Showed Enlarged Heart. Does Low Ferritin Cause Enlarged Heart?

I have a chronic cough - my Gp did blood tests and found that my ferritin level was 4 and haemoglobin 11. I was sent for a chest X-ray , my lungs were fine but it should up an enlarged heart - I have to go for an echocardigram. Could the low ferritin level and enlarged heart be linked? I am female, early 50 and not yet in menopause
Tue, 30 Oct 2012
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello catriona570,

i have gone through your case scenario and i doubt that your low ferritin level have any active relation for your dilated heart . However since you will be getting echocardiogram done it will reveal a better picture than the x-ray prevously done for your chest. Regarding low ferritin level , i want to know whether you are a strict vegetarian because if so , then the low ferritin levels can be atrributed to it. Most common cause of low ferritin is iron depletion from body like anemia and chronic blood loss . However your hemoglobin level is 11 and i will consider it to be normal. My suggestion to you would be to follow your primary physician's advice and take care of yourself. Get stool for occult blood test now just to rule out any silent blood loss through GI tract and repeat hemoglobin and ferritin levels again after 3 months for correlation . Take care
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Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Akhilesh Dubey's  Response
Hi,
Welcome to HCM
Your low ferritin level is suggestive of Iron deficiency anaemia,Haemoglobin is 11 which is on lower side of normal.
If Chronic anaemia is present certainly it can cause enlargement of heart,it is appropriate to reconfirm it by getting a Echocardiography which more accurate in knowing size of heart.
Other causes could be Hypertension,Valvular heart disease,IHD, may also detected on Echo.
A low hemoglobin level may be due to some kind of blood loss may be from GIT in stool or it may be irregular and excessive bleeding during MC.
Why there is chronic cough is not clear,COAD ? usually in smokers?
Take care
Good luck to you
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Chronic Cough, Blood Tests Showed Low Ferritin, Chest X-ray Showed Enlarged Heart. Does Low Ferritin Cause Enlarged Heart?

Hello catriona570, i have gone through your case scenario and i doubt that your low ferritin level have any active relation for your dilated heart . However since you will be getting echocardiogram done it will reveal a better picture than the x-ray prevously done for your chest. Regarding low ferritin level , i want to know whether you are a strict vegetarian because if so , then the low ferritin levels can be atrributed to it. Most common cause of low ferritin is iron depletion from body like anemia and chronic blood loss . However your hemoglobin level is 11 and i will consider it to be normal. My suggestion to you would be to follow your primary physician s advice and take care of yourself. Get stool for occult blood test now just to rule out any silent blood loss through GI tract and repeat hemoglobin and ferritin levels again after 3 months for correlation . Take care