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June 19, 2013
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Ferritin Test (cont.)

Medical Author:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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What do abnormal results of a ferritin blood test mean?

  • Low levels of ferritin are seen in iron deficiency. The body uses iron to produce the hemoglobin that is critical for the red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues of the body. Iron deficiency anemia, or a decrease in red blood cells, is the result. Serious cases of anemia can produce symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, pale skin, and fast heartbeat, although mild cases may not be apparent and may first be noticed when blood tests are performed for other reasons.

  • Elevated levels of ferritin can mean that the body has too much iron. Hereditary hemochromatosis is an example of an inherited iron storage disease in which there is excessive accumulation of iron in the body (iron overload). In individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis, the daily absorption of iron from the intestines is greater than the amount needed to replace losses. Since the normal body cannot increase iron excretion, the absorbed iron accumulates in the body. The accumulation of iron in different organs (including the heart, liver, joints, and testicles in men) damages these organs over time, potentially causing heart failure, cirrhosis, diabetes, joint pain, and sexual dysfunction. Women can also have hereditary hemochromatosis, but because they lose more iron than men due to iron loss from menstruation, symptoms begin at a later age than in men.

  • Ferritin levels are also commonly elevated when there is underlying inflammation in the body. In this setting, ferritin is sometimes referred to as an acute phase reactant (similar to erythrocyte sedimentation rate or ESR, C-reactive protein or CRP).

Must Read Articles Related to Ferritin Test

Anemia
Anemia Anemia can be caused by many conditions and diseases such as iron deficiency, poor diet and nutrition, cancers, bone marrow problems, and more. Symptoms of anem...learn more >>
Hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload) Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH, iron overload) is a genetic disorder in which excess iron is retained in the body. Hemochromatosis may affect several organs in ...learn more >>
Pernicious Anemia (Vitamin B-12 Deficiency)
Pernicious Anemia (Vitamin B-12 Deficiency) Pernicious anemia (vitamin B-12 deficiency) is a type of anemia that is a result of the body's inability to absorb vitamin B-12 into the gastrointestinal tract....learn more >>
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