Peer Reviewed
Gastroenterology clinic
Elevated serum ferritin: identifying iron overload
Recent articles on:
Blood and blood disorders
Blood and blood disorders
Abstract
It is important to determine whether elevated ferritin levels are associated with iron overload conditions, such as hereditary haemochromatosis, or other causes, such as liver or inflammation-related conditions.
Key Points
- Ferritin, an iron storage protein, is critical to iron haemostasis. Its serum concentration closely reflects the body iron stores in the absence of inflammation.
- Alterations in ferritin level are seen commonly in clinical practice, often reflecting perturbations in iron homeostasis or metabolism.
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