Recently Answered Questions
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I am a thalassemia major patient with HCV. How long can I live?
Query: Hello doctor,I am a thalassemia major with factor XIII deficiency, HCV+. I transfuse platelet or FFP daily and RCC weekly. All these things are reacting in my body. My ferritin level is 15000 after chelation therapy. This also reacts badly every time. I am 28 years old. How much time do I have to li... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Based on your query, my opinion is as follows: The serum ferritin level of 15000 is too high. Along with HCV, the prognosis is somewhat poor. However, without knowing the amount of iron deposition in tissues like the liver, heart, etc, and also the amount of damage to the... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor, My 8-year-old son has been suffering from congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) since birth. He takes blood transfusions every month. His ferritin is 3205 micrograms per liter, bilirubin 4.4 mg/dL, SGPT 387 U/L, SGOT 470 U/L, and alkaline phosphatase 687 IU/L. Please suggest to me ... Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read your query and understand your concern. Your son has elevated liver enzymes with high bilirubin and high serum ferritin. Elevated ferritin levels may be due to increased iron storage because of repeated blood transfusions. Heptral (Ademetionine) can be c... Read Full »
I have thalassemia minor. How to increase hemoglobin and decrease ferritin levels?
Query: Hi doctor, I am a 76 year old male, who is 170 cm tall and weigh 68 kg. Presently I have anemia, and my hemoglobin is 9.6 g/dL. I also have high serum ferritin level of 1900 ng/mL. I have this problem for some time. Many years ago, I was diagnosed with thalassemia minor. I was feeling tired, and I h... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have seen all your reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal hemoglobin production. I do not have to explain you much about thalassemia as your doctor might have told you the details... Read Full »
Can ferritin levels increase from an injured elbow or osteoarthritis?
Query: Hello doctor, Last October, on a routine physical, I received a ferritin reading of 535 with all other CBC/ metabolic panel tests and Iron panel completely normal. A follow up six weeks later, still showed a raised ferritin of 448 and yet another showed two weeks after that at 575 (at time of the 5... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Ferritin levels can vary from lab to lab. It also has a variation based on fasting status and time of the day when the sample is taken. Your ferritin levels are not alarmingly high. All the major workup are done and negative. Avoid alcohol intake if any. Your BMI i... Read Full »
How to reduce the levels of iron and ferritin?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 61 year old male. For many years, I was treated for hemochromatosis. Then, about 12 years ago, I had a genetic test. The results prompted the hematologist to abruptly stop the recurring phlebotomies. I do not recall the test result and apparently, it cannot be located. But, I r... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Your iron saturation and serum ferritin is high and these are suggestive of iron overload or hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). You talked about a test that was done and then the hematologist stopped the phlebotomy. I think, probably he mus... Read Full »
How to reduce my serum ferritin level?
Query: Hi doctor, My ferritin level is 1500, and I want to bring it down to 150. How much will one DFO IV session or each Exjade pill reduce the ferritin level on an average? I am a healthy individual, and I do not have HIV, HCC, or any other disease. Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your serum ferritin is high, so the cause should be found out first. It can be hemochromatosis, in which excess iron is stored in the bone marrow. Deferoxamine is used for increased iron storage in thalassemia patient. For high ferritin, phlebotomy is also another mo... Read Full »
Please suggest ways to reduce high iron levels.
Query: Hi doctor, My mother has been transfused with at least 11 to 12 units of blood during a period of two months. This was done on a false diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. It was a false diagnosis because transferrin receptor was never used to come to this diagnosis. She has had elevated CRP for a ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Based on your query, my opinion is as follows Normally in hemochromatosis (iron deposition disease), serum transferrin, iron and ferritin levels will be usually high. All the symptoms and signs point towards hemochromatosis, possibly due to iron overloading secondary ... Read Full »
Are high sugar and raised liver enzymes side effects of Protonix?
Query: Hi doctor, I have been taking Protonix for almost three weeks for acid reflux. I had some blood laboratory work done and it showed my AST 812 and ALT 1,115. Could this be a rare side effect of Protonix? My glucose also went up to 192 and lipase is 72. I do not drink, smoke or use drugs... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Is this the only liver function test you have? I wanted to trend it. Plaquenil (Hydroxychloroquine) and Protonix (Pantoprazole) both can cause elevated liver function test, but it is relatively rare with Protonix. I also want to make sure that you are not using Aspir... Read Full »
What can be done for elevated ferritin levels in a 50-year-old?
Query: Hello doctor,I am a 50-year-old female who has had an elevated ferritin level for many years now. My last ferritin level was 342, 20 days back. My ferritin level has been as high as 390. My TIBC, UIBC, iron, and iron saturation have always been within normal range. My glucose has always ranged from ... Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Elevated ferritin could be from congenital hemochromatosis but HFE gene mutation is negative, so it is excluded (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Secondly, a hemolytic condition also can be a possibility but serum LDH (lactic acid dehydrogenase), reti... Read Full »
What is the suggested food for a baby with thalassemia major?
Query: Hello doctor, My baby girl is 3.5 years old. She has thalassemia major and her ferritin level is 3000 ng/ml. What food is good for her? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Based on your query, my opinion is as follows: Iron intake should be reduced. Vegetarian diet will be better as iron content is low. The diet that can be followed include: 1. Importantly avoid vitamin C or citrus food up to four hours after food as it helps in impr... Read Full »