low hb high ferritin

[vikas741]

i'm 62 yrs old male. i have low hb i.e 5 as per last test. the doctor checked for ferritin levels and it was at 350. so what can be cause for low hb. can it be cured. also i have some problem with my kidneys. the cretanine level is 3.8. please help..

[willbb]

The physician who did this testing should be the one to discuss with you and interpret these values and possiblble causes.

As Mag  asks ...do you have HCV or been tested for such?

best ..
Will

[pooh55811]

You do not give much history so it is difficult to give an informed response.

There are many causes of Anemia. You need to be thoroughly examined ASAP by a competent MD (Internal Medicine MD or Hematologist or both) who will run all of the necessary tests to determine the cause of your anemia. If your Hemoglobin is truly 5 (which is quite low), and the cause is not obvious (ie blood loss) then your doctor should be acting immediately to find the cause and should be referring you to appropriate specialists to determine the cause and to treat you. (While they are determining the cause of your anemia, they can also investigate your creatinine. The two problems could very well be related.

From Web MD:

There are many types of anemia. All are very different in their causes and treatments. Iron-deficiency anemia, the most common type, is very treatable with diet changes and iron supplements. Some forms of anemia -- like the anemia that develops during pregnancy -- are even considered normal. However, some types of anemia may present lifelong health problems.
What Causes Anemia?

There are more than 400 types of anemia, which are divided into three groups:

    Anemia caused by blood loss
    Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
    Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells

Anemia Caused by Blood Loss

Red blood cells can be lost through bleeding, which can occur slowly over a long period of time, and can often go undetected. This kind of chronic bleeding commonly results from the following:

    Gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), and cancer
    Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirinor ibuprofen, which can cause ulcers and gastritis
    Menstruation and childbirth in women, especially if menstrual bleeding is excessive and if there are multiple pregnancies

Anemia Caused by Decreased or Faulty Red Blood Cell Production

With this type of anemia, the body may produce too few blood cells or the blood cells may not function correctly. In either case, anemia can result. Red blood cells may be faulty or decreased due to abnormal red blood cells or a lack of minerals and vitamins needed for red blood cells to work properly. Conditions associated with these causes of anemia include the following:

    Sickle cell anemia
    Iron-deficiency anemia
    Vitamin deficiency
    Bone marrow and stem cell problems
    Other health conditions

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder that affects African-Americans. Red blood cells become crescent-shaped because of a genetic defect. They break down rapidly, so oxygen does not get to the body's organs, causing anemia. The crescent-shaped red blood cells also get stuck in tiny blood vessels, causing pain.

Iron-deficiency anemia occurs because of a lack of the mineral iron in the body. Bone marrow in the center of the bone needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that transports oxygen to the body's organs. Without adequate iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. The result is iron-deficiency anemia. This type of anemia can be caused by:

    An iron-poor diet, especially in infants, children, teens, vegans, and vegetarians
    The metabolic demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding that deplete a woman's iron stores
    Menstruation
    Frequent blood donation
    Endurance training
    Digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease or surgical removal of part of the stomach or small intestine
    Certain drugs, foods, and caffeinated drinks

Vitamin-deficiency anemia may occur when vitamin B12 and folate are deficient. These two vitamins are needed to make red blood cells. Conditions leading to anemia caused by vitamin deficiency include:

    Megaloblastic anemia: Vitamin B12 or folate or both are deficient
    Pernicious anemia: Poor vitamin B12 absorption caused by conditions such as Crohn's disease, an intestinal parasite infection, surgical removal of part of the stomach or intestine, or infection with HIV
    Dietary deficiency: Eating little or no meat may cause a lack of vitamin B12, while overcooking or eating too few vegetables may cause a folate deficiency.
    Other causes of vitamin deficiency: pregnancy, certain medications, alcohol abuse, intestinal diseases such as tropical sprue and celiac disease

During early pregnancy, sufficient folic acid can prevent the fetus from developing neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Bone marrow and stem cell problems may prevent the body from producing enough red blood cells. Some of the stem cells found in bone marrow develop into red blood cells. If stem cells are too few, defective, or replaced by other cells such as metastatic cancer cells, anemia may result. Anemia resulting from bone marrow or stem cell problems include:

    Aplastic anemia occurs when there's a marked reduction in the number of stem cells or absence of these cells. Aplastic anemia can be inherited, can occur without apparent cause, or can occur when the bone marrow is injured by medications, radiation, chemotherapy, or infection.
    Thalassemia occurs when the red cells can't mature and grow properly. Thalassemia is an inherited condition that typically affects people of Mediterranean, African, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian descent. This condition can range in severity from mild to life-threatening; the most severe form is called Cooley's anemia.
    Lead exposure is toxic to the bone marrow, leading to fewer red blood cells. Lead poisoning occurs in adults from work-related exposure and in children who eat paint chips, for example. Improperly glazed pottery can also taint food and liquids with lead.

Anemia associated with other conditions usually occur when there are too few hormones necessary for red blood cell production. Conditions causing this type of anemia include the following:

    Advanced kidney disease
    Hypothyroidism
    Other chronic diseases, such as cancer, infection, lupus, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis
    Old age

Anemia Caused by Destruction of Red Blood Cells

When red blood cells are fragile and cannot withstand the routine stress of the circulatory system, they may rupture prematurely, causing hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia can be present at birth or develop later. Sometimes there is no known cause. Known causes of hemolytic anemia may include:

    Inherited conditions, such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia
    Stressors such as infections, drugs, snake or spider venom, or certain foods
    Toxins from advanced liver or kidney disease
    Inappropriate attack by the immune system (called hemolytic disease of the newborn when it occurs in the fetus of a pregnant woman)
    Vascular grafts, prosthetic heart valves, tumors, severe burns, chemical exposure, severe hypertension, and clotting disorders
    In rare cases, an enlarged spleen can trap red blood cells and destroy them before their circulating time is up.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-anemia-basics

[MagTX]

Hi, do you have hep c? Having high ferritin levels can be related to having chronic hep c. There have been many posts here over the years on this topic.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Elevated-Ferritin-Levels/show/1230231

Are you referring to your Hgb (hemoglobin) being only at 5? Are you on treatment currently? Some more info would be more helpful, it's hard to understand your entire question.