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Suggest Treatment For Low Hemoglobin Level
hello doc. just want to hear from you about my concern. My father is a diabetic with apidra and novomix injections 3x a day. He is also an anemic with hemoglobin of 8.3 but with 3,000 ferritin. he also had heart attack/arrest last january 28, 2015. his hematologist suggested for bone marrow check up but his cardiologist won t allow that procedure until he is on his 6-month heart treatment. what would you suggest for my fathers hemoglobin level would somehow then be increased? he already have plenty of oral medications for his heart, kidney, and he even have epoitin recormon twice per week, still his hemoglobin after several blood transfusions, still will go down?
Fri, 11 Nov 2022
Hello,
The following may be causes of anemia in your father:
1) A diet lacking in certain vitamins and minerals. A diet that is consistently low in iron, vitamin B-12, copper and folate increases the risk of anemia.
2) Iron deficiency anemia
3) Vitamin B 12 deficiency
4) Anemia of chronic diseases like cancer, kidney failure
5) Anemia due to chronic inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis
6) Sickle cell anemia
7) Hemolytic anemia
8) Anemia due to intestinal malabsorption like worms, irritable bowel disease
9) Aplastic anemia
10) Anemia due to bone marrow disease
11) Bleeding of lower or upper intestine
The treatment depends upon the cause:
1) Anemia due to kidney disease would respond to erythropoietin injection. As your father is taking the injections every week without any improvement in his hb%, other causes are to be investigated.
2) Iron supplements should be given along with vitamin C
3) Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements
4) Intestinal bleeding is to be dealt with if present
5) Bone marrow biopsy would help to find out the cause of anemia
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
The following may be causes of anemia in your father:
1) A diet lacking in certain vitamins and minerals. A diet that is consistently low in iron, vitamin B-12, copper and folate increases the risk of anemia.
2) Iron deficiency anemia
3) Vitamin B 12 deficiency
4) Anemia of chronic diseases like cancer, kidney failure
5) Anemia due to chronic inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis
6) Sickle cell anemia
7) Hemolytic anemia
8) Anemia due to intestinal malabsorption like worms, irritable bowel disease
9) Aplastic anemia
10) Anemia due to bone marrow disease
11) Bleeding of lower or upper intestine
The treatment depends upon the cause:
1) Anemia due to kidney disease would respond to erythropoietin injection. As your father is taking the injections every week without any improvement in his hb%, other causes are to be investigated.
2) Iron supplements should be given along with vitamin C
3) Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements
4) Intestinal bleeding is to be dealt with if present
5) Bone marrow biopsy would help to find out the cause of anemia
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Pallavi M., Anesthesiologist
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