question about anemia

Hi my spouse is vegetarian male in his 40s don't drink or smoke in his last lab test it comes out as mildly anemic is it related to iron deficiency? ...No ferritin test done(takes normal balance diet, but for years have hemoglobin on lower side of normal).Family doc suggested retest and my spouse feels no need to check. His platelet count stable without any medication since 2009.

Any suggestions or insight is appreciated. Many Thanks

WBC 4.00 - 10.80 K/uL 6.16
RBC 4.50 - 5.25 M/uL 5.13
HGB 14.0 - 16.5 g/dL 13.7 L
HCT 40.0 - 47.0 % 42.0
MCV 82.0 - 99.5 fL 81.9 L
MCH 27.0 - 34.0 pg 26.7 L
MCHC 32.0 - 36.0 g/dL 32.6
RDW 11.5 - 15.5 % 14.5
PLATELET COUNT 140 - 400 K/uL 103 L
MPV 6.6 - 11.1 fL NO RESULT - ABNORMAL PLATELET DISTRIBUTION
SEGS 40 - 75 % 52
LYMPHS 18 - 42 % 40
MONOS 1 - 11 % 7
EOS 0 - 6 % 1
BASOS 0 - 2 % 0

Is the doctor concerned?

Anemia can be caused by many things. He should have his ferritin checked....that would show whether or not he has low iron stores. That can usually be easily fixed by taking Ferrous Sulfate. Another reason can be pernicious anemia which is caused by low B-12. That is also easily fixed. Some people with ITP also have Autoimmune Hemoytic Anemia, which is an autoimmune disorder of the red blood cells.

He may not have any of those things and this could just be a fluke. But if it's not, he'd need to find out the cause.

Note that the red blood cell count is normal, but the cells are small, as shown by the below-normal values for MCV (mean corpuscular volume). So to be more specific, this is called MICROCYTIC ANEMIA, in case you want to look it up. This narrows down the causes.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxene) deficiency, iron deficiency, and lead poisoning are the most common causes. All of these can be tested.

Beware of over analysing. If he's not complaining of feeling tired all the time then he's not anaemic. It's another case of looking at symptoms rather than numbers. His Hb is not even particularly low.

This cbc was done in june 2014 as a part of routine annual physical by family doctor, His specialties are internal medicine and anatomic pathology, pediatrics. After reviewing results he ordered repeated blood test online for my spouse(But we don't know if he is also testing for iron panel, B12 etc into it or just repeating normal cbc) We will get to know what he is testing for only when we go for lab work...
Doc did mention about finding the cause of anemia but also said its not urgent.

My spouse is a kind of person who never worries(its good some times), and don't want to repeat blood test and plans to do next year in june 2015. He says minor changes in hemoglobin doesn't matters. He himself never even read about ITP. Everything I read on this forum and and keeps myself knowledgeable for just in case.

Thanks to all of you

Also forgot to mention one of our pharmacist friend suggested taking iron and my spouse is taking 35mg elemental iron once every 6 days. also I am giving him little spinach every day, some times I give him blackstrap molasses(house of herbs) 1 tsp. contain 70% iron of daily required intake . Do not know how much iron his body absorbs..

That seems to be a common thing with people who have autoimmune disorders....they don't absorb vitamins well from food. I know that I have that going on and so do many others that I know of.

I eat much less n not very careful about my iron intake still I never had anemia ..
Years before in 2009 he was deficient in vitamin b12 he started taking 100mg b12 alternate day and his b12 is well absorbed.
While diagnosing his ITP in 2009 hematologist did his bone morrow aspirate that time there was a line in his aspirate report... " slightly defective hemoglobalization" we were so focused on ITP that we never asked what it means n hematologist never bothered to worry about it. Rest all report was fine and consistent with ITP. Lab report also said "hereditary thrombocytopenia although very unlikely but should be considered. "He never took any medication for ITP so no idea how his platelets will react to any drugs. He do not have any known medical record of his childhood n he do not remember any history showing symptom of low platelets as such rarely went to the doc n did blood test before diagnosing ITP.
Some times I feel if that thing has anything to do with his present low hemoglobin or always have normal but to lower side hemoglobin.
I think if we check his ferratin level it will come reasonably good... in veg diet iron is difficult to absorb ? but again male usually don't have low iron problem?

Will update u all his test results probably he check around mid of 2015

Taking 35 mg elemental iron every 6 days without doc prescription is it ok?

Wishing all of u a very happy holidays

{Taking 35 mg elemental iron every 6 days without doc prescription is it ok?

It should be, but he should still have a CBC and check it. Too much iron isn't good for men. I took iron on my own to build my ferritin levels and was okay, but I'd worry more about a guy.

Hi everyone

my spouse decided not to go for CBC this year ...(anyway he is having count in 90s for last five years) so may be next year will go for cbc.
wishing you all a very happy holidays and healthy new year

thanks

Dear all,

My spouse did CBC last week. His hemoglobin stays exactly same as last one no change. Platelet count is 110. Doctor ordered fob test to check blood in stool ,it came out negative.
So doctor said may be its his normal range of hemoglobin.

Thanks for all your help and support

Glad to hear your husband's counts have stayed stable. In my experience, some docs will engage in watchful waiting and not treat a condition seen on lab work if there is no apparent underlying cause and no clear signs or symptoms in the patient. However, watchful waiting (i.e.: monitoring but not treating) requires the patient to cooperate with the routine testing involved. Fortunately, a blood draw is simple enough.

You can ask the phlebotomist doing to blood draw what specifically is being tested for. They have the orders, which they need so as to select and use the appropriate vial when collecting a specimen. I also suggest you keep records of all your husband's results in case any values change or you have to get a new provider.