Low ferritin with normal hemoglobin. The reasons what this means, the symptoms, what to do, the treatment of women during pregnancy, a child, adults

Ferritin concentration in the human body changes under the influence of certain provoking factors. In this case, hemoglobin remains at the normal level.

Low ferritin provokes the appearance of certain clinical signs that need to be addressed to the hospital. A comprehensive examination will help to establish the diagnosis and the cause, according to the results of which the specialist prescribes special treatment and recommends adhering to a diet.

What is Ferritin?

Ferritin is a special protein called a storage site for iron. His responsibilities also include the transportation of this element to other internal organs. But in some situations, it indicates the development of a malignant tumor - placental ferritin.

The protein complex is formed in two ways. Anabolic - Ferritin is secreted from iron that a person gets from food. Catabolic - the source of protein is the iron of hemolyzed erythrocytes. The greatest amount of ferritin accumulates in the brain, liver, muscles, spleen and blood.

Biological significance and relationship with hemoglobin

Due to the low concentration of ferritin, the process of producing hemoglobin, which is necessary for transporting oxygen to the internal organs, is disrupted. The end result is iron deficiency anemia. Pathological processes progress gradually.

In the early stages of iron deficiency, hemoglobin levels will be normal and ferritin will drop as the protein releases its stores to the body. Over time, if you do not take action, all indicators will decrease.

Ferritin is important for the human body in that it performs numerous functions:

• Protein provides iron, which is needed for the synthesis of hemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen.
• Shows the level of reserve and total iron.
• A specific protein is responsible for transporting iron to other internal organs (liver, spleen, bone marrow).

Ferritin is also actively involved in the synthesis of certain radicals that promote oxygen reduction.

The rate of ferritin in the blood

Normal ferritin levels in human blood depend on gender and age:

Age, gender	Ferritin level (ng / ml = μg / l)
Baby	25-200
1 month	200-600
Half a year	6-410
1 year	6-80
1 to 5 years old	6-60
5 to 14 years old	6-320
Men from 14 years old	20-250
Women from 14 years old	10-120
Menopause in women	15-200

For a woman, low ferritin is a normal condition and does not belong to pathologies.

During the period of gestation, the indicators decrease, depending on the duration of pregnancy:

Trimester	Ferritin concentration (ng / ml = μg / l)
I	<90
II	<74
III	<10-15

Low ferritin with normal hemoglobin (reasons in some situations may indicate pathological changes) in a woman's body is explained by the fact that it is taken by the fetus, which needs develop.

A large number of red blood cells and hemoglobin are required for a baby at birth in order to adapt to the world around him. Gradually, the hematopoietic system will begin to function independently and the level of ferritin in the small organism will stabilize.

Causes of deficiency of iron-containing protein with normal hemoglobin

The reasons for the low level of ferritin are numerous provoking factors, which are important to eliminate in a timely manner, to prevent the occurrence of serious complications:

Gender, age	Causes of low ferritin
Among women	chronic bleeding; depletion of the body with rigid diets; severe kidney disease; insufficient iron levels in the human body; intestinal damage; hypothyroidism; blood clotting disorder.
In men
In pregnant women	malnutrition; hyperpolymenorrhea; short period between pregnancy and the last birth; oncology; bleeding during pregnancy; parasitic infection; 4 or more pregnancies in the past life; indigestion; multiple pregnancy; chronic diseases.
In children	violation of the digestive process, against the background of which iron is poorly absorbed; congenital pathologies, which are accompanied by a low level of the carrier protein; severe pregnancy and childbirth; improper diet, lack of iron; parasitic damage to the child's body; infection with tuberculosis.

It is important to diagnose the causes of low ferritin with normal hemoglobin in a timely manner. It is necessary to start treatment in the early stages of the violations that have appeared and to prevent dangerous consequences. This is hypoxia, a decrease in the body's defenses, heart disease, damage to the kidneys and genitals.

Symptoms of latent anemia

In most cases, low ferritin levels can only be detected through laboratory tests, there are no pronounced clinical symptoms.

However, there are signs to look out for and visit a doctor:

• often dizzy;
• shortness of breath is present;
• the skin is pale, sometimes it acquires a bluish tint;
• the person gets tired quickly;
• worried about headaches;
• heart rate increases;
• hair becomes dull and brittle;
• the skin on the face and body is dry;
• discomfort and painful sensations periodically appear in the region of the heart;
• nails exfoliate;
• pustules form in some places on the body;
• ulcers appear in the corners of the lips, which take a long time to heal;
• a person is worried about frequent colds.

Low ferritin with normal hemoglobin (the doctor will help determine the reasons by prescribing a complex examination) is also accompanied by severe irritability, depression, a sharp change mood. Sleep is disturbed, insomnia appears, taste habits change, constipation occurs.

One of the signs of a specific protein deficiency is soreness in the lower extremities, which cannot be explained. The same goes for hair loss. These symptoms are due to the fact that the tissues do not have enough oxygen.

Stages

Latent anemia is a consequence of the development of a certain disease or disorders in the human body. Sometimes it is possible to eliminate them thanks to a properly composed diet, but in some situations medical attention is required.

Latent anemia is classified according to certain degrees of severity:

Name	Description
I degree	The hemoglobin level drops to 90-120 g / l. In rare situations, minor symptoms and disorders occur, which can be eliminated with the help of a properly formulated diet.
II degree	The hemoglobin level ranges from 70 to 90 g / l. The person's condition is satisfactory, hospitalization is not required, but medication is necessary.
III degree	The hemoglobin level is below 70 g / l. Complex therapy requires hospitalization of a person. Symptoms are severe, you may need not only drug therapy, but also surgical intervention, taking into account the cause of the pathological condition.

As changes in human blood progress, internal organs suffer from a lack of oxygen. Their functioning is disrupted, against the background of which other pathological processes develop. Therefore, it is important to take action early on in iron deficiency.

Conception and infertility with low ferritin

Conception of a child with low levels of iron and ferritin in a woman's body is impossible.

A deficiency of a specific protein negatively affects the functioning of the reproductive system:

• the viability of the egg decreases;
• there is no ovulation;
• during maturation, it is impossible to transport the egg to the uterus;
• its process of attachment to the walls of the organ is also disrupted.

There is no full guarantee to get pregnant even with artificial fertilization of an egg. therefore low ferritin levels are one of the causes of infertility in women.

Indications for examination

Comprehensive diagnostics is necessary for the patient so that the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and establish the provoking cause. It is important to consult a specialist if any clinical sign appears.

There are the following indications for laboratory tests to assess ferritin levels:

• suspicion of the development of iron deficiency anemia;
• high probability of developing malignant processes;
• chronic infectious or inflammatory pathologies;
• high likelihood of developing hemochromatosis.

Immune and visual impairments are also indications for testing. Permanent weakness and frequent dizziness will allow suspecting latent anemia.

Diagnostic methods

A blood test will help determine your ferritin level.

But to establish the cause of the pathological condition, additional diagnostic methods will allow:

Name	Description
Blood chemistry	The study helps to assess the level of lipids, metabolism, and also identify the inflammatory process.
X-ray of the lungs	A diagnostic method by which the doctor evaluates the state of the respiratory system.
Fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS)	The examination allows you to determine the inflammatory foci or bleeding, against which the level of iron has decreased.
Ultrasound examination (ultrasound)	The specialist examines the internal organs for hidden bleeding, inflammation, or a developing disease.

A study of feces for occult blood, computed tomography (CT), colonoscopy is also prescribed. Bone marrow puncture allows differentiation of iron deficiency anemia from other diseases. This is how the maturation index of neutrophils and erythroblasts is determined.

Treatment for adults

Therapy for low iron levels depends on the provoking factor. The diagnosis and treatment is carried out by a hematologist. The specialist conducts an examination, prescribes an examination and, based on the established diagnosis, selects a therapy regimen.

In most cases, to restore the level of a specific protein, patients are given a special diet. In difficult situations, drug therapy is selected.

Drugs

The doctor prescribes medications to patients, taking into account the results of complex diagnostics and the provoking factor, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient's body. It is important to adhere strictly to the dosages so as not to aggravate the health condition.

Low ferritin with normal hemoglobin (the reasons will be determined by a hematologist using laboratory tests) is treated with the following drugs:

Name	Application	Contraindications
Feramide	The medicine is taken orally after meals. The adult dosage is 0.1 g 3 times a day. The course of treatment lasts 3-4 weeks.	hemochromatosis; individual sensitivity; anemia not associated with iron deficiency.
Totem	The contents of the ampoule are pre-dissolved in water. Adults are prescribed 2-4 ampoules per day. The course of treatment lasts 3-6 months.	hemochromatosis; hemosiderosis; ulcers of the stomach and duodenum; individual sensitivity; poisoning with lead salts.
Ferroplex	The medicine is taken orally 1-2 pills 3 times a day.	hemolytic, aplastic anemia; hemochromatosis; transfusion siderosis.

If the patient's digestive reflex is impaired, medications are administered intravenously through a drip. The same goes for dehydration from prolonged diarrhea. You cannot take medications on your own, there is a high likelihood of side effects (enlarged liver, anaphylactic shock, allergic reaction).

Diet therapy

For most patients, proper nutrition helps restore ferritin deficiency.

Featured Products	Prohibited foods
buckwheat, oatmeal and rice porridge liver, offal black currant, cherry tomatoes, beets eggs pomegranate, green apples, prunes spinach legumes walnuts, almonds seafood veal, beef	milk products fish fat sweet carbonated drinks fatty, fried and smoked foods lamb, lard fatty meat, poultry pickled foods cakes and pastries with butter cream strong tea, coffee sweets and chocolates alcoholic drinks

The patient's diet should include foods that contain a large amount of trace elements that support the process of hematopoiesis.

Diet therapy provides certain principles that are important to adhere to:

• Meals should be frequent and fractional so that all the necessary substances have time to be absorbed by the human body.
• All dishes are preferably baked, boiled, stewed or steamed.
• Food should be warm.

Patients with latent anemia are advised to drink at least 2 liters of liquid every day.

Features of treatment of pregnant women

Low ferritin with normal hemoglobin (the reasons will help to identify a specialist, assigning a woman a comprehensive diagnosis) is often recorded in women during pregnancy. This is fine in some situations. But there are cases when the cause is a serious violation, therefore, examination and correctly selected therapy are necessary.

During the period of carrying a baby, a woman should not take medications, they can harm the fetus. Therefore, doctors with a low level of ferritin prescribe dietary supplements and dietary supplements to a woman. Dietary supplements contain iron, vitamins, biostimulants and ascorbic acid.

Name	Application	Contraindications
Teknofer	Adult patients are advised to dissolve 1 tablet daily in a glass of water. The course of treatment lasts a month. Children are recommended to give the medicine in drops.	individual sensitivity to the composition.
Elevit pronatal	The medicine should be taken by mouth during meals with plenty of water. The recommended dosage is 1 tablet per day.	violation of the metabolism of iron and zinc; failure in the functioning of the kidneys; individual sensitivity; hyperphosphatemia; hypercalcemia.
Medefer	The drug should be taken 1-2 tablets once a day.	hypersensitivity to components.

Treatment during pregnancy is prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the woman's condition. You cannot take medications on your own, they can harm the fetus. It is also important to strictly adhere to the established dosages, since even dietary supplements can provoke side effects.

Features of the treatment of children

Children with low ferritin, regardless of age, are also prescribed drugs and a diet to make up for iron deficiency. It is important to add legumes, meat, dried fruits and cocoa to the child's diet. Vitamin C necessary for the body is found in rose hips and kiwi. Seafood can also help increase hemoglobin levels and restore protein.

For children, iron-containing drugs are selected in syrups or sweet tablets:

Name	Application	Contraindications
Ferrum Lek	The dosage of the drug is determined taking into account the patient's age and is 2.5-30 ml 1 time per day. Chewable tablets can be given to children 12 years of age and older. The treatment lasts 3-5 months.	hemochromatosis; individual sensitivity.
Hematogen	Depending on age, it is recommended to give hematogen to children 5-10 g 2-3 times a day.	hypersensitivity; diabetes; obesity; hemolytic anemia; violation of material exchange.

Medicines to restore iron levels in children are prescribed by a pediatrician. You cannot give drugs on your own, given the high likelihood of side effects.

Low ferritin with normal hemoglobin can be successfully treated if a person is diagnosed in a timely manner. The causes of the pathological condition were also established and an effective therapy regimen was selected. Complications result from late medical attention or inappropriate treatment. It is important not to ignore the first symptoms of iron deficiency anemia, but to go straight to the hospital.

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