Overview
Ferritin is an intracellular iron storage protein whose levels are indicative of the body's total iron stores.
Normal Range
- 15 - 300μg/L
Hyperferritinaemia
Elevated serum ferritin is classically a marker of iron overload.
Ferritin is also an acute phase reactant and can be non-specifically elevated with alcohol intake, liver disease or chronic inflammation.
Causes of Hyperferritinaemia
- Acute phase response (infection / inflammation / malignancy)
- Liver disease
- Iron overload
Hypoferritinaemia
A reduced ferritin level is the most specific indicator of iron deficiency, as there are no other major causes of hypoferritinaemia.
Note that inflammation or liver disease can falsely elevate serum ferritin, masking a concomitant iron deficiency.
Next Page
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------