Anemia, but too much iron in the body? Let's talk about Sideroblastic Anemia

When most people hear the word 'anemia ' , they immediately think of iron deficiency. That's why they feel tired all the time, lethargic, dizzy, and sometimes unable to sleep. But did you know that in some cases of anemia, the opposite actually happens? Instead of iron deficiency, the iron in the blood cells 'increases'. Doesn't this sound a bit strange? Today we're talking about one such special, but not very common, anemia condition called sideroblastic anemia.

Simply put, what is Sideroblastic Anemia?

To understand this, let's first take a look at our blood. Inside the red blood cells in our blood is a protein called hemoglobin . Its main job is to capture the oxygen that comes into the lungs when we breathe and carry it throughout the body. So this oxygen is essential for every cell in our body to live.

Now, to make this hemoglobin, our body definitely needs the mineral 'iron'. In general, anemia occurs when the body lacks iron. Therefore, it is unable to make hemoglobin.

Imagine a kitchen that has rice, water, and salt to cook rice, but the rice cooker is broken. Then you can't cook rice. That's how it is. In this disease, there is plenty of iron, an ingredient needed to make hemoglobin. But the factory that uses that iron to make hemoglobin, our red blood cells, doesn't work properly. So the unused iron starts accumulating inside these defective red blood cells. We call these abnormal cells that have accumulated iron in this way `(Sideroblasts)`.

What are the symptoms of this condition?

The symptoms of this disease are very similar to other anemia conditions, so it can sometimes be easily confused. And because the disease develops slowly, you may not even know you have it. These are the main symptoms that you can see.

What are the main types of Sideroblastic Anemia?

This disease can be mainly divided into two types.

1. Inherited Sideroblastic Anemia

This is a very rare, genetic condition. That is, it is passed on to a child through genes from one of the parents. The most common type of this is X-linked Sideroblastic Anemia . This is caused by a mutation in a gene that affects hemoglobin production. As a result, the body tries to absorb more iron from food to make up for the lack of hemoglobin. In severe cases, it can damage organs such as the liver . This congenital type is usually diagnosed before the age of 30.

2. Later-onset type (Acquired Sideroblastic Anemia)

This is the most common type. The best part is that it can often be cured . Although doctors sometimes don't know the exact cause, there are several main factors that contribute to this condition:

• Certain medications: Especially some medications given for tuberculosis.
• Excessive alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time is a major risk factor.
• Toxic chemicals : Long-term exposure to certain toxic chemicals, such as lead.
• Other diseases: This condition can also be caused by other diseases such as immune disorders, tumors, or metabolic diseases.

In addition, both types can develop another condition called hemochromatosis , which causes excess iron to accumulate in the body.

How to diagnose this disease exactly?

Because the symptoms are similar to other anemia conditions, it can be a bit challenging to diagnose. So it's important to listen to your body. If you have one or more of the symptoms listed above, please see your doctor.

The doctor will carefully ask you about your symptoms, examine you, and then order several tests to confirm whether you have this condition.

• Blood Tests: A complete blood count and iron studies are key.
• Peripheral Blood Smear: Here, a blood sample is examined under a microscope to see if there are any abnormal iron-accumulating cells (Sideroblasts) that we talked about earlier.
• Bone Marrow Biopsy: In some cases, a small sample of bone marrow may need to be taken and tested to confirm the disease.
• Other tests: If necessary, the doctor may also recommend an MRI scan or genetic testing.

How is it treated?

Treatment options depend on whether you have the congenital or acquired type.

• Treating the Cause: If you have the acquired type, the first step is to remove the cause. For example, if a medication is causing the condition, your doctor will stop that medication and prescribe another. If you are a heavy drinker, you will need to stop drinking alcohol completely.
• Vitamin B6: Studies have shown that vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, may be helpful in treating both types of the condition. Your doctor may prescribe this vitamin as a supplement.
• Removing excess iron: There are medications that can be given to remove excess iron from the body. Deferoxamine is given as an injection under the skin, and Deferasirox is given as a pill. However, these medications can affect the kidneys, so they should be used under the close supervision of a doctor.
• Blood Transfusion: If your body does not respond to vitamin B6 treatment, your doctor may recommend a blood transfusion. However, this has a downside. With continued blood transfusions, your body's iron levels will increase, increasing the risk of liver damage.
• Bone Marrow Transplant: This is the treatment of last resort. It is considered in severe cases where no other treatment has yielded a cure.

Anemia, Sideroblastic Anemia, Sideroblastic Anemia, Iron overload, Hemoglobin, Red Blood Cells, Symptoms