what iron levels are considered "suspicious" for iron overload/hemochromatosis?

Question

Answer 1

Hemachromatosis: A number of tests are available to check iron levels, and a hematologist or blood disease specialist, will check multiple tests for iron overload. The specialist may also suggest a liver biopsy to check for iron overload.

Answer 2

See below: A non-fasting serum iron- transferrin (iron protein) percentage of more than 60% is considered suspicious and should be followed by further work-up.

Answer 3

Transferrin sat: Your best screen is transferrin saturation. Many of us think that the current recommendation of 45% or more for women, 50% of more for men miss too many people. If you actually have evidence of liver troubles (elevated SGOT / SGPT, for example), think about getting a serum ferritin. With a family history, get the gene testing to know early.

Answer 4

Blood test: Your baby can look pale, feel tired, sleep more than usual and/or have a decreased appetite. Often times, a baby won't have any symptoms and the deficiency will be picked up via screening labs.

Answer 5

Lab work: Babies at high risk for iron deficiency include those born prematurely and babies who aren't eating any solids (like rice cereal) after 6 months old. For toddlers, those who drink more than 24 oz of cow's milk a day or follow a vegetarian diet are at highest risk. Because children can have iron deficiency without symptoms a lab test is needed for diagnosis (screening is usually done at 12 mo).

Answer 6

A blood test: It is hard to tell whether or not a 6 month old baby has iron deficiency without doing a blood test. Babies often are a bit deficient in iron because they grow so fast, and new growth (new muscle cells, new blood cells, etc. . .) requires iron. Breast milk, iron-fortified formula, and iron-fortified baby cereal all supply needed iron for a baby's growth.

Answer 7

Many symptoms: Anemia, or low iron, can cause your infant to be pale, irritable, more tired than normal, weak or have rapid heart rate or fast breathing. It can usually be prevented with a proper diet, which in a breast fed infant means using a multi-vitamin with iron daily. Formula fed infants should only receive iron fortified formula. Pediatricians test for anemia between 9-12 months, and if concerns arise.

Answer 8

Fussy, pale, weak: Young babies often are a bit deficient in iron because they grow so fast, and new growth (new muscle cells, new blood cells, etc...) requires iron. Breastmilk or iron-fortified formula supply needed iron for a baby's growth (a baby can double his weight in the first 5 months). A baby who gets too iron-deficient and quite anemic can be fussy, not eat well, seem pale or weak, and have a rapid pulse.

Answer 9

Yes: Hemochromatosis is the most common of genetic diseases. It can have variable penitrance and manifest briskly or insiduoulsy. It is usually not manifest until the 4th or 5th decade of life and usually in males since women lose blood/iron with menses. A blood test can be done to diagnose and for genetics. Counsel with your pcp, hematologist or geneticist. Great sources on the web. I have it!

Answer 10

Siblings and childre: Hemochromatosis is inherited as an autosomal recessive manner. That means for any affected individual (person with hfe). The risk to any brothers or sisters of an affected person is between 25-50% depending on the carrier status of the parents. For children of an affected parent, the risk is about 5% based on the carrier frequency in the general population but could be up to 25%.

Answer 11

Several months: Iron replacements for anemia may take several months to get your iron level back to normal. Too rapid a replacement may give you GI side effects like constipation or liver irritation. Take oral iron with vitamin c to help with absorption without a heavy meal.

Answer 12

Iron deficiency: Tough question. Many parameters to normal blood. It depends also how quickly you respond, how deficient you were, how well you absorb the iron, how immunocompromised you are, your overall diet and wellness status, and a repeat blood test.

Answer 13

Find the cause: Low hemoglobin is not always due to iron deficiency, your doctor has to find the cause of the low hemoglobin and treat it if possible.

Answer 14

Need more info: If you are anemic, the cause needs to be ascertained and treatment directed at the cause. If your anemia is due to iron deficiency and you do not wish to take iron pills, replacement iron can be administered by intravenous infusion.

what iron levels are considered "suspicious" for iron overload/hemochromatosis?

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