Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Anemia?

I was wondering if anyone here has experienced Anemia along with their AS? I've been slightly anemic myself for the past 10 years or so which roughly corresponds to my AS diagnosis. I'm not overly concerned because it's borderline right now and have heard that it can occur in folks with chronic diseases. I've read some new research such as here: Iron Acquisition by Bacteria that has found that bacteria can actually rob the body of iron, I wonder if there is a connection in my case? It also seems logical that if this is true then iron supplementation might not be such a good idea...

NorCalJim

Hi!

I have AS and Crohn's disease. I am anemic from my childhood. This is owed to my thick intestine (Crohn's disease). They passed many years to find out this. Now I am on Remicade therapy and my hematocrit starts slowly to increase.

Best
Natassa

Thanks, that's an interesting point and could perhaps point to an iron absorbtion issue as it seems alot of AS folks have digestive issues...

NorCalJim

Just in the last several years have I become anemic, which coincides with the worsening of my disease. I was told it goes along with chronic disease. My GI doctor, as well as my former rheumatologist, advised me not to take iron supplements. My GI doc told me they are hard on the stomach & he doesn't want to fix one problem by creating another one.

I've also become anemic within the last two years also. It's kind of a catch-22. Prolonged, severe anemia can cause a host of problems for one's body including eventual organ failure and brain damage. However, I've also read (similar to NorCalJim's post) that iron feeds bacteria. I tend to believe a large part of my current anemia is due to malabsorption. However, it suspiciously surfaced at the same time I fell ill with pneumonia. I had my colon removed many years ago due to ulcerative colitis. Doesn't mean that whatever pathogen/illness/disease went away, the doctors just eliminated the most prominent symptom. I don't bleed so the cause is not so apparent which is why I suspect malabsorption.

I currently supplement with blackstrap molasses and Floradix's Floravital Iron+Herbs liquid iron. My hemoglobin dropped to near blood transfusion levels last summer/fall. It came back up with supplementation, but then eventually dropped again once I stopped. Currently, it is again increasing with the supplementation. My ferritin levels are almost non-existent. It was a two (2) when we re-identified the anemia. Ferritin is now a whopping four (4). Progress, right? GP wants me to see a hemotologist. I'm reluctant as I'm wary of more medical doctors. I go back this week for a follow up CBC and ferritin.

Janet, if your doctor fears that iron tabs will cause you GI problems you may want to try supplementing with blackstrap molasses (rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, copper and more) or a liquid iron suspension (like the Floradix product). They are both easy on the GI system.

So far (keeping fingers crossed) my anemia levels have always come back within normal range.

Lisa

There was only one time so far (I was 21 at the time)I was severely anemic. I had gave blood for the first time. I was proud to be able to give blood. A month later I became anemic. Levels for my iron where to be above 11 and mine was 5. I woke one morning I couldn't move my legs. Then there was pins and needles, and then I passed out. When I came too I got ready for work. I told my boss and she took me down to the clinic. there they gave me a needle of iron and I was told to take a iron supplement for a month. I had to go back in a month to see if my levels had risen. I was told I could never give blood again, because the iron in my system does not reguvinate itself.

So if any of these drogs cause anemia, or cause bleeding, I will have to also avoid them.

Hugs

Gerri

Yes I get a type of anemia AS or Colitis....?

The lab report automatically flags it and reports it is likely to be chronic inflammation becuase something else is flagged as low in the blood test.....I can't remember what it was.

from http://arthritis.about.com/od/diagnostic/a/diagnosis.htm

Low hemoglobin and hematocrit may be indicative of anemia associated with chronic diseases or possible bleeding caused by medications.....

Dave

Hi, NorCalJim:

The problem of anemia is almost universal with active AS. As ESR increases (in those people who are 'indicators;' otherwise disease activity is less easy to measure), hemoglobin decreases; these are inversely proportional.

elimination of the inflammation can resolve the anemia; iron supplementation is not usually required and this alone will probably not help very much. We lose the ability to manufacture and absorb enough vitB12 and other co-factors required in producing hemoglobin, so this is somewhat reduced. The bacteria are just opportunistic; they use what we do not--taking supplements will not affect this very much unless these are taken long-term.

Best to You,
John

I've not had ESR raised or even mid normal range since being on methetrexate, but CRP does go up now.

Dave