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Low HGB and HCT?

What can cause low HGB (13.9gm/bl) and HCT (39.7%) levels? My iron was normal. folate level (18.6ng) is high, but b12 is normal. my HGB and HCT were low on 2 different tests about 2 or 3 months apart? Yesterday my blood pressure was 100/68? What should be done?

Male | 46 years old
Complaint duration: 3 months
Medications: levothyroxine, Trazodone

3 Answers

Probably for PCP
When you report your iron level was normal, was it iron saturation? This is the most accurate assessment of iron stores in the body. Iron levels are very sensitive to iron content of recent meals.
Low hemoglobin in hypothyroid patients in the setting of normal serum iron, vitamin B12, and folate is common and can be normalized with levothyroxine administration and iron supplements even if iron levels are normal. This is because thyroid hormones may affect production of hemoglobin.

Sincerely,

Dr. Monique Mazzuca, MD, CCFP