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Nephrotic Syndrome and Iron deficiency???

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 8:40 pm
by mitch
Was recently diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome and the subsequent biopsy confirmed I have Membranous Glomerulonephritis.

However as I was also undergoing changes to my bowel movements at the same time my doctor ordered a fecal calprotectin stool test which was found to be elevated and confirmed I had some kind of inflammation going on. My ferritin levels were also low (iron deficient) so a colonoscopy was ordered by my Nephrologist as he thought it might be connected to my kidney problem.

The Colonoscopy found nothing other than diverticular disease which i'm told is extremely common and shouldn't have caused either calprotectin or low ferritin.

My Nephrologist has now ordered an endoscopy and MRI scan of my small bowel because my ferritn levels are still low.

He seems convinced that the ferritin being low is due to a problem with the gastrointestinal tract, however having researched online I have found several articles relating to the connection between Nephrotic Syndrome and iron deficiency, due to the fact that ferritin is a blood cell protein and as such it may be lost into urine as are other proteins in Nephrotic Syndrome.

Would like to hear from anyone with Nephrotic Syndrome who also has iron deficiency.

Many thanks

Mitch

Re: Nephrotic Syndrome and Iron deficiency???

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 9:11 pm
by wagolynn
Hi Mitch,
This may be of some help to you: http://www.edren.org/pages/edreninfo/ne ... ndrome.php

In kidney failure, production of new red cells can be impaired. Healthy kidneys produce a hormone EPO sick kidneys produce less or none, where this is the case, EPO can be given by injection. The EPO signals to the bone marrow, make more red cells. I think the liver recovers iron from old red cells but it is usual for kidney patients to have iron injections/infusions.

Best wishes.

Re: Nephrotic Syndrome and Iron deficiency???

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 10:23 pm
by mitch
Thanks for your reply. Very informative.