iron overload without transfusion

[gramous]

Hallo every one,

my boyfriend has mds rars-t without cytogenics change and he's NO transfusion dependant. But he has too much ferritine. Has anyone that and what is your level? His is 900 µg/l. Any advise is welcome :-) thank you

[Mseth]

My mother's ferritin at dx was 983, this was before any transfusion. She has RCMD with ringed sideroblast.
I read that many MDS patients have high ferritin at diagnosis and before transfusion.
Ferritin is also a marker of inflammation, it may come down on its own if it is due to that.
Or maybe since RBC production is low, the iron is not used and stays in the blood or converts to ferritin. I may be completely wrong on this one.

[Birgitta-A]

Hi béné and Mseth,
Many MDS patients have hemolysis (the red blood cells burst too early) and that will lead to a high ferritin level. You know normal red blood cells will live about 120 Days.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A

[Mseth]

Hi Birgitta-A,

Some years back, before the MDS dx, my mother had several tests for hemolytic anemia, i am not sure what those tests were but she tested negative for that. Can hemolysis of blood cells happen even then?

I still do not understand if her marrow produces too less RBC, or if they are not formed properly or they break prematurely.

Thanks for always helping us understand MDS.

[Birgitta-A]

Hi Mseth,
I think we can have hemolysis without the special tests being positive - I have that myself. Often our bone marrow can not produce enough red blood cells, then they are dysplastic (not properly shaped) and breake too early.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A