Ferritin
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.
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