Iron Overload

Sorry to use a thread, but....

High iron (iron overload)was the unnormal reading caught in a routine health exam two years ago.  At first they thought that I had Hemochromatosis which is a genetic disease that cause iron overload but I tested negative (HFE genetic test). Later I was diagnosed with HCV.

The normal range for iron is 35-150 UG/DL.  At beginning of tx my reading was 271 and dropped to the 50's which is well within normal.  Now that tx is over I'm worried that it will rise again.

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge with this topic?

Iron overload can cause serious damge to internal organs and effect fibrosis.

Thanks.

[miked]

Thanks.  

The information is very good and also contradicts itself.  In one section it states that disease severity and response to Interferon tx is directly related to serum iron indices.  Later there are statements of no relationship between pegINF/RBV response rates and iron overload.

I did note that iron & HCV together exacerbate liver damage.  

Also that phlebotomy + Interferon retreatment in non-responders resulted in an 80% end-of-treatement response rate.

Interestingly the document states that the highest level of ferritin has been observed in geno 1b patients, which is what I have.

This may explain why I had very good initial results with tx but the viral loads increased at week 32.

I'll bring this up with my doc on Wednesday and report back.

ANY OF YOU WITH ELEVATED SERUM IRON LEVELS SHOULD CHECK THIS ARTICLE OUT!

Mike

[Lynne5477]

New Comment/Question:
Just got my 6-mo post-tx PCR results.  UNDECTATABLE!!  Yea!!!!!
It's been awhile since I posted so to refresh memories I was a 1B, F, 47 yo, Tx 48 wks with Peg-intron/Rebetol, beg VL 596,000; at 12 wks VL = 379, and Undetetable at 24 wks.

Now my ?? for those who have completed tx.  Pre-tx Hbg was 14.3; at 6-mo post it is still only 13.8. (One mo post it was 13.2) I was curious if I can expect this to increase back to pre-tx level or not.

Thanks everyone for your support; and I wish everyone tx'g much success and may your sx be few and far between.

[Soleus]

Way to go lynne. Give it a few months I

[layla]

Congrats Lynn! Have a great celebration. LL

[honey1616]

Miked,,,,My husband is a geno 1 and had a high ferritin level before starting tx.  He has been through with tx now for 3 months but haven't checked it again since stopping.

Lynn,,,Wonderful News!  I'm so happy for you!

[DRAGON SLAYER]

http://www.natap.org/
Click on HCV to your left, & go down to
article #28::::Iron and Hepatitis C - (02/07/05).
Pls tell me your opinion.
Good luck all,
Ben

[stan1]

i posted a detailed comment which subsequently disappeared.....don't have time to repeat it now, but 271 isn't a bad ferritin level at all -- many labs use 300 as the upper end of their range for men -- the range you posted sounds more like the female parameters.   hopefully my other post will show up later.  take care,

stan

[stan1]

a ferritin level of 271 is considered a very mild elevation that shouldn't be of concern to you -- i'm kind of surprised that your doctor initially suspected hemochromotosis -- my doc said that the vast majority of those patients have readings in the thousands.   sometimes if you have a lot of iron stains showing up your biopsy, that will raise the doc's eyebrows and trigger the gene test.   my ferritin level is about 800 now -- i hope that doesn't mean i'm less likely to attain SVR status, but i don't think there's much that can be done to reduce that level.   in extreme cases they do those phlebotomies (sp?) but i doubt if they do them on people who are already anemic from ribavirin -- you'd just lose more red blood cells in the blood-letting, which would be undesirable.  a ferritin level under 1000 doesn't even rise to the point where it's characterized as "moderately elevated," if i understand the "scale" correctly.  if you tested negative for the gene, don't worry about the ferritin level unless it gets way out of whack -- you can do some small things like avoid iron in vitamins, but i don't think you have much control over the situation.

stan

[miked]

My doc just email'ed to say that an "iron stain" revealed no significant iron increase.  We're meeting tomorrow and I hope to learn more about the topic...again the elevated iron levels is what drew attention and led to my HCV diagnosis.  
My diet is very good although I do love a rare steak and spinach.
I'll report what I learn.  Thanks.

[mikesimon]

Congratulations! Mike

[Tallblonde]

Way to go, Lynne!!  Congratulations on your great news!

Susan

[scruffy]

That's truly wonderful news Lynne. Enjoy! frank

[doll face]

Lynne, CONGRATULATIONS on your test results. Always wonderful to hear that one of our own beat this thing. My hbg levels were always hovered between 10 and 12 during tx. Now 4 months post are finally starting to go up. My doctor says to just be patient, that it will get back to normal.

[LvdByGod!]

Yeah Lynne, that's fantastic...congratulations!!!

[cuteus]

hgb fluctuates up and down within the normal range , especially in menstruating females. I have bloodwork from yrs prior to tx, during and post tx. It has never been the same every time. as long as it is within range and you feel well, don't think too much about it

congratulations and enjoy

[bzzracer]

Has an hemotologist studied your blood cells under a microscope where s/he can see iron abnormalities? What was your diet leading up to the test? Its possible you ingested high iron rich foods which caused a spike in your test. Just my opinion.

[tina-b]

My husband has hemochromotosis. Hep C 3a tx's 2 times, hopefully still clear. His ferritin was 1000 prior to first round of tx. Ferritin was 2054 at the end of 24/24 first round. Doc did HFE gene type after first round of tx and it was pos.

He had phlebo's to get ferritin to 12 The range is 20/320 I think.

Started 48/48 in February of 04'. His ferritin was 538 about 6 months into second round of tx. Doc refused to tx ferritin while on  hepC meds. Peg-interon and rebatol.  He finished 48/48 on December 28 2005.


3 week post tx Hepti-max was neg and ferritin 158.

I just hope it means the meds fixed his liver to the point where it is able to keep the ferritin in check. He  goes back to the doc end of April.

[LvdByGod!]

yes, please do report back...i just discovered that i have a high fetoprotien level too (832)...but, none of my 3 previous dr.s ever got it tested before in the 2 years i've known about my  hepc...

my biopsy, pre tx, 2 years, ago shows no iron in stain...so i don't know what to think...i don't see the dr for 3 months...

i wonder if this warrents a call sense no one mentioned it at the visit 2 weeks ago and i just noticed it on the blood test...it's sort of hard to spot on the test results...it's kinda in a inconspicuous spot on the list. i hope he noticed it...this dr doesn't tell me anything unless i ask about it, i am noticing that...so i need to be much more inquisitive...

(that article is very good but what is up with that apparent contradiction?...i'm sure we're missing something...does it seem to you they are making a distinction between pre tx biopsy iron stain results verses high ferritin levels in the blood? it may be we need to read and study exactly what thier saying more in depth). could it be varying conclusions on different tests? i don't have time now but i will be taking a closer look at the report later)...

thanks, sandi