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Iron and coinfections

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Posted 5/22/2009 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
I've read that the body sequesters iron sometimes during bacterial infections because iron can sometimes feed the infection.  I know iron does not encourage Lyme, but what about coinfections?  Does anyone know if iron feeds Bartonella, Babesia or Ehrlichia?

Thanks,

Posted 5/22/2009 9:52 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Razzle.  Do you have a high iron level?

Babesiosis infects the red blood cells.  Some people, not all, who have Babesiosis have low iron and/or low hemoglobin levels.

 

Posted 5/22/2009 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a low red blood cell count, low hematocrit and low hemoglobin for over a year, and a low white blood cell count since 2005 (this is one reason I suspect I have Ehrlichia/Anaplasmosis in addition to Lyme and Bartonella). Iron levels themselves tend to run low to normal but a bone marrow biopsy in 2006 showed 0 iron stores, and at the time nobody treated the iron deficiency then or since until now. Now that my Naturopath is in control of my TPN (i.e., my nutrition), he has me getting IV iron 3 times a week to try and bring up the RBC, hematocrit and hemoglobin. But I didn't want to make the infections worse so I was asking because of that.

I was diagnosed clincially with Bartonella despite negative tests, and I do have a lot of Bartonella symptoms. Fry labs said I was clear of all coinfections (had the whole enchilada of tests they offer, and all came up negative). I don't fit the symptom profile of Babesia, but I do fit some of the symptoms for Ehrlichia/Anaplasmosis.

Thanks for your insights,
Posted 5/22/2009 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Razzle.  One time when I had Babesiosis, I had low hematocrit, low hemoglobin, and low iron.  Have you had your ferritin level checked?  I think if your iron levels are low, it is good you are supplementing.

 

Posted 5/22/2009 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Last time they checked ferritin, it was normal, but that was a few months ago. I think I'm going to request it be checked again so they don't overdose me on iron. Thanks,
Posted 5/22/2009 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hm,... don`t know if this helps to find further info: in an article I kept a person named Peter Greenberg from the University of Washington in Seattle was mentioned who (according to the autor of the article) did research in iron metabolism of bacteria. The article says that the body "knows" that a reduction in having iron available is a tecnique to protect itself when being infected. Don`t know how the body is doing this but that is what is mentioned there. It sounds interesting as so many seem to have the low iron.

The whole article is mainly about the problem of bacteria overgrow on polymere medical stuff like contact lenses, prostheses, etc. and the iron thing is only mentioned en passant as they research different ways to keep the bacterial load on such material small.

Just wanted to let you know. greetings, dorit
Posted 5/22/2009 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
I know this was not your question but I thought I would throw this in as you're are speaking of iron. Fungal infections such as candida, aspergillosis,etc. take iron from your body.  D
Posted 5/23/2009 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Dowa, I find it interesting that fungal infections also use iron. In my case, I attribute the anemia primarily to not eating any foods that contain iron...candida studies always come back negative (3-day stool samples, blood tests). My diet prior to being on TPN was devoid of iron for years because of intolerances, allergies, and a messed up gut. I tried iron supplements but they either messed with my gut or made my eyes hurt (I have no idea why iron would make my eyes hurt...).

Thanks for the info, Dorit - I read something somewhere in all my research about bacteria using iron and the sequestration of iron by the body (probably something in the liver does this) as a way to combat the infection. I wonder if the body does the same thing with fungal infections...more things to research, LOL. Seems the more I learn, the more I find out that I need to learn more about...

Thanks,
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