SERUM FERRITIN
Serum ferritin appears to be in equilibrium with tissue ferritin and is a good indicator ofstorage iron
in normal subjects and in most disorders.In patients with some hepatocellulardiseases,malignancies and inflammatory diseases,serum ferritin is a disproportionatelyhigh estimate of storage iron because serum ferritin is an acute phase reactant. In suchdisorders iron deficiency anemia may exist with normal serumferritin concentration.In the presence of inflammation,persons with low serum ferritin are
likely to respondto iron therapy.
^Increased Levels
* Iron overload – Hemochromatosis, Thalassemia & Sideroblastic anemia
* Malignant conditions-Acute myeloblastic & Lymphoblastic leukemia,Hodgkin’sdisease & Breast carcinoma
* Inflammatory diseases-Pulmonary infections,Osteomyelitis,Chronic UTI,Rheumatoid arthritis, SLE,burns
* Acute & Chronic hepatocellular disease
^Decreased Levels
* Iron deficiency anemia
