Signs and Symptoms of Sideroblastic Anemia

According to the Life Extension Foundation, anemia affects about 3.5 million Americans and is the most widespread blood condition in the United States. Because anemia is so common, there are more than 400 different types of the condition, all caused by different reasons. While some conditions may be treated by simple diet changes or supplement additions, others are more severe and can cause serious conditions later in life if not treated.

Definition

• Standard anemia is obtained when the body doesn't acquire enough iron. With sideroblastic anemia, the body does have a sufficient amount of iron but is unable to turn the iron into hemoglobin. Therefore, an overload of iron is stuffed into the mitochondria, and the bone marrow cannot create enough red blood cells. The iron overload causes a ring-like sideroblast around the nucleus of a red blood cell, which is where the name is derived from. This overload of iron and decrease in hemoglobin is what causes anemia.

Diagnosis

• According to the Iron Disorders Institution, sideroblastic anemia is acquired in 3 ways. Hereditary anemia is obtained from an X-linked recessive gene and usually begins during adolescence. Acquired anemia is due to an overdose of alcohol, certain prescription drugs, an excess of zinc or lead, ethanol abuse, poor nutrition and certain diseases. Idiopathic anemia is diagnosed from an unknown cause. Bone marrow produces hemoglobin every second, and if this process is disturbed, anemia occurs. Random causes, such as hypothermia, may trigger the process to become disturbed.

Minor Symptoms

• Sideroblastic anemia shares the same symptoms of many other conditions, therefore making it difficult to determine the cause. Minor symptoms include paling or darkening of the skin, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, rapid heartbeat or a shortness of breath. If you notice any of the symptoms, a look into your family's medical history or a visit to the doctor can determine if you have sideroblastic anemia.

Serious Symptoms

• If not treated, minor symptoms may turn into more serious symptoms, which include an enlarged spleen or liver, liver disease, kidney failure, cardiac arrhythmia, MDS, which is a bone marrow dysfunction disorder and acute myelogenous leukemia. This type of leukemia, also referred to as acute myeloid leukemia, is caused from an overload of white blood cells due to the decrease in red blood cell production. According to eMedicine, 3 to 12 percent of sideroblastic anemia patients develop this leukemia if left untreated.

Treatment

• If sideroblastic anemia is acquired from an overdose in alcohol and certain prescription drugs, or from poor nutrition, treatment may just include eliminating the cause of the anemia. For example, if you stop taking the drug that caused the anemia, the problem might fix itself. Another common treatment is to add pyridoxine to your diet, also known as Vitamin B6. Cases that are more serious might need whole red blood cell transfusions, bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.