Fatty liver, booze, metabolic syndrome will cause an elevated ferritin with normal iron levels. Also any type of inflammation
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Abdomen CT scan - oops..
- Thread starter GimmeABreak
- Start date
cta7978
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Hyperthyroidism will cause ferritin loading as well.
GimmeABreak
Research Enthusiast
I suppose it could be from alcohol, before Tirz I drank a lot of beer. However, I haven't had more than a half-glass of wine since July and I only did that twice (good wine with a good steak). Is it possible it is stored from when I was drinking and giving blood will "clear it out"? Would fatty liver be visible on the CT scan (entire abdomen) I just had? All of my liver enzyme tests are normal and have been normal the entire time that I have had high ferritin.
I just looked up metabolic syndrome (new one for me) and I had high triglycerides & BP in mid-2023 but went on meds and was controlling both, now I'm in a normal range without meds.
My plan is to give blood and test again at the end of the month to see where its at. The docs so far haven't been very insightful and prefer to do nothing but watch it "700 isn't that high". Donating blood helps others and if it lowers my ferritin, its a win-win in my book.
GimmeABreak
Research Enthusiast
Would that show in my thyroid test? TSH .723 uIU/mL and T4, Free Direct 1.62 ng/dL which are both in the "normal" range.
I appreciate all of the responses!
cta7978
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"If your blood test shows a normal TSH and T4 level but a high T3 level, this can potentially indicate a condition called "T3 toxicosis" which is considered a form of hyperthyroidism, even though the standard T4 levels might appear normal"
Worth checking your T3 and Free T3 IMHO.
GimmeABreak
Research Enthusiast
Thanks! I will get my doc to add when I see her at the end of the month.
@GimmieABreak and @cta7978
This is exactly what my bloodwork shows too. High ferritin (750) and normal iron. My TSH is normal at 2.67 (reference range is .45 - 4.5), T4 free direct is normal at 1.26 (reference range is .82 1.77), a1c is 5.0, cortisol is normal at 17.2, reverse T3 is normal 12.1, vitamin D 25 hydroxy is high at 122, lipoprotein (a) is less than 8.4, c-reactive protein is normal at .4, homocysteine is high at 16.9, T3 free is normal at 2.8, liver enzymes are normal (AST is 34, ALT is 27) and I am a daily drinker (fasted for this bloodwork though). Was wondering what to make of these values, having been on tirz for many months and reached goal weight of 180 lb, and I do not take (and have never taken) prescription meds for anything. 55 yr old male, 5'11", 180 lb.
This is exactly what my bloodwork shows too. High ferritin (750) and normal iron. My TSH is normal at 2.67 (reference range is .45 - 4.5), T4 free direct is normal at 1.26 (reference range is .82 1.77), a1c is 5.0, cortisol is normal at 17.2, reverse T3 is normal 12.1, vitamin D 25 hydroxy is high at 122, lipoprotein (a) is less than 8.4, c-reactive protein is normal at .4, homocysteine is high at 16.9, T3 free is normal at 2.8, liver enzymes are normal (AST is 34, ALT is 27) and I am a daily drinker (fasted for this bloodwork though). Was wondering what to make of these values, having been on tirz for many months and reached goal weight of 180 lb, and I do not take (and have never taken) prescription meds for anything. 55 yr old male, 5'11", 180 lb.
cta7978
🥥
Anybody with ferritin that high needs to have hemochromatosis ruled out. And if you are a daily drinker cirrhosis can cause elevated ferritin levels (even with normal liver enzymes).
GimmeABreak
Research Enthusiast
That was one of my first checks. Tested by me (23andMe) and my Doc through lab corp. I don't have the markers.
Probably not alcohol if you quit drinking in July. Here is what I used to work up the person I saw with an elevated ferritin and normal iron. Found out she was an avid wine drinker. Yes a fatty liver would show on CT. But and MRI would show it better. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/core/lw/2.0/html/tileshop_pmc/tileshop_pmc_inline.html?title=Click on image to zoom&p=PMC3&id=8125175_jcm-10-02008-g005.jpg
GimmeABreak
Research Enthusiast
Thank you again for taking the time to look at this. I had a liver MRI back in 2023 when a lung cancer screening showed something on my liver. Liver MRI revealed cysts that were believed to be benign. This was confirmed on the CT I just had. No one has tested my TSAT which seems key to the flow chart you provided.
Strangely, I just got my bloodwork back from the hematologist and ferritin is down to 362 from 729 on 10/29. The only change from October to now (other than some weight loss) is I gave blood in early Nov. This ferritin test was also not tested at LabCorp like all of my other tests but either at the Hematologist's facility (Texas Oncology) or some other unnamed lab. Hopefully, giving blood on Monday will lower it even more when I get tested at the end of the month at LabCorp. If it is still high I will share your chart with my Doctor to see what she thinks.
nonyabizznez
Registered
I hope they told you how common liver cysts are and not a cause for concern. My new liver apparently came with cysts!
GimmeABreak
Research Enthusiast
Yes! The note on my results actually says "Stable small hepatic cysts" I think the radiologist compared the previous imaging I had done in 2023. Thats crazy that you get a new liver and comes with a few "dings" on it.
GLP-1s or other things?
Reta, lipo-c and nad
