Anemia without low iron

Very good to hear this. Do you attribute this to dietary changes?

Sadly I can't say diet changes have help.  I believe it all down to medication treating the the underlining condition (crohn).  GI believe that she has had crohns for years and the condition had become chronic.

I do believe that Sarah had anemia of chronic disease (and thank for realising this).

There has being no improve in her iron studies, if anything they got worse.  Although they are hard to compare as our now being done by different lab.

I am posting studies for your information as my understanding was the that iron levels would improve before hemoglobin levels which has not happened in Sarah's case.

Ferritin 56 ug/L (15-165)
iron 2 umol/L (7-27)
transferrin 2.7 g/L (2.5-3.8)
transferrin sat 3 (13-47)

Comment
Low iron saturation may be seen in inflammatory disorders.



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Sorrry I had trouble with my post.

My last comment was going to be that.  Sarah's hemoglobin level in the highest it has been in 2 years and 9 months.  Maybe even long that this as this was the time of her first full blood testing.

Thanks for everything.

When Sarah hemoglobin started to rise, she had also started to take a B Multi Vitamin and D3 with calcium.

Her vitamin D level tested 60.  Her is taking the supplement on her gi advice, gp does not believe the level is low.  Calcium is being taking due to the use of steriod.

GI said that calcium is better when combined with D3.  If the level of D is low the body finds it hard to use the calcium supplement.

Sarah continue to improve.

I'm happy to hear that Sarah continues to improve. Optimum D level is considered 50-80, so her level is good, and she is improving with her current regimen, so it would be wise to continue the D. So many people take calcium without D, making it mostly useless. Because the heartbeat is controlled by calcium and magnesium working together, I suggest using magnesium anytime calcium is used, as an imbalance can cause hear palps, when supplementing with calcium alone.

Hi Guys

I haven't posted in ages.

Sarah has continued improve.   She is now in first year of university and working as a swimmer teacher.

Her Crohn's disease is remission.

A big thank to all you guys who were there in the dark times.

I try and give back the support you guys gave us on a Crohn's forum.

A child on that form has just been dx with anemia of chronic disease. 

Labs as follows:

Hemoglobin is 9.4 (again) (low)
Total iron is 149 (range is 40-175)
TIBC is 293 (range is 250-450)
% Saturation is 49 (range 15-50)
Ferritin is 183 (range is 10-154) (High)

Vitamin B-12 is 585 (range is 200-1100)
Folate is normal (no number)
And Vitamin D is 46 (range is 30-100)

The girl is half Indian.  She and her mother have tested negative for thalassemia.  Her uncle is a confirmed carrier.   The labs just don't look right for ACD.

CatherineM,

Is there a CBC available for the child? It would help greatly in diagnosing whether or not the child is a thal minor. ACD is not an easy diagnosis and not one that should automatically be assumed.

Thanks for your reply.

So you think it possible that this child has thalassemia even although they have tested negative for thalassemia.

I have requested more information from the mother.

Thanks

Catherine

Further update, just heard from the mother.

Dx of ACD how be withdrawn.

They are retesting for thalassemia minor  and some  haemolytic  anemias.

Mother mention there was a problem with the old testing for thalassemia.

Thanks

Catherine