“I have been recently diagnosed with Hemochromatosis. My Rheumatologist has told me my iron level is normal however a recent study has shown that iron does not need to be a factor in diagnosing Hemochromatosis.I have Lupus and the Rheumatologist feels the arthritis in my hands is not caused by Lupus.My fingers have started to fuse together.Please Help. Many Thanks Diane MacIntosh”
Blood tests known as Serum Ferritin (SF) and Transferrin Saturation Percentage (TS%) reflect how much iron is in the body and how much is being transported and stored. Currently these tests are not part of a general medical checkup. If you are showing symptoms, please ask your Doctor to do these tests (which must be specifically requisitioned - suspecting hemochomatosis) and ask your doctor for a photostatic copy of the results of the test.
A normal serum ferritin result varies with age and gender. An abnormally high ferritin will be highlighted on the lab test as out of range. Ferritn is a non-specific test and can be elevated for other reasons than hemochromatosis. A level of more than 200 ng/ml for women and 300 ng/ml for men is considered out of range.
A normal transferrin saturation (TS) is typically 25-40 % saturation. Anything greater than 45% saturation requires further investigation. TS is more specific to hemochromatosis but is still considered a screening test and on its own does not confirm hemochromatosis.
If both serum ferritin and transferrin saturation come back abnormally high, or even high normal, further work up is required. Additional diagnostic testing can be done including genetic testing for the HFE gene.
Arthritis is a known effect of too much iron (hemochromatosis) in the body and tissues. Many others have reported joints fusing together throughout different parts of the body including, fingers, knees, ankles and hip degeneration.
You indicate in your post that your doctor has confirmed a diagnosis of hemochromatosis. Are you currently in treatment for it which initially is deironing by phlebotomy (blood-letting)?
Bob Rogers
Executive Director CHS
January 4, 2010
Bob and everybody
Happy new year!
Some time ago while discussing HH it was noted that the lab ranges for ferritin and t-saturation were only the high and low averages for what that particular lab was seeing. We have two testing labs within an hour of each other and they have different lab ranges.
After some more sleuthing I got hold of just about every biochemistry and physiology books I could access and each and every one stated that ferritins >50 should be investigated ie that is the high end of normal.(remarkably, the iron metabalism section were only 4-6 pages)
HTH some
tom c