What is the Ferritin Test? Why is the test done? Everything around this, that you should know, in this post, and of course our doctors are always there to help you. Just fill in your details in the form below and we will answer all your questions for FREE!
Ferritin is a blood protein inside the cells that stores iron. It allows the body to use iron when it needs it. It usually lives in a body’s cells and it circulates very little amount in the blood.
A great concentration of ferritin is usually present in the cells of the liver (hepatocytes) and immune system (reticuloendothelial cells).
Ferritin is stored in the body cells until it makes more red blood cells. The body sends the signal to cells to release ferritin, then ferritin binds to another substance called transferrin.
Transferrin is a protein that combines with ferritin (iron) and transfers it throughout the body where new blood cells are made.
As we know, we need iron to produce healthy red blood cells. RBCs carry oxygen from the lungs and transfer it to the rest of the body. Iron is also important for muscles, organs, and bone marrow, including brain development in children.
A serum ferritin test measures the amount of blood protein that stores iron in the body. This test is done to diagnose the serum iron test, transferrin test and total iron-binding capacity test. Lack or excess ferritin levels may indicate that the body stores too much iron or too little iron.
This test is used to check the iron levels stored in the body whether it is excess or deficiency. Sometimes, it can also be prescribed as a routine part of a complete blood count to know the average range of ferritin. This ferritin test may also be used to diagnose:
Low ferritin is caused by many diseases, like impaired absorption through diet or H.pylori infection. In women, it can be due to a lack of iron in the diet and excessive menstrual bleeding. Some other causes are:
Symptoms of low ferritin levels:
Symptoms of high ferritin levels:
If the level of ferritin is lower than the normal range then it may lead to iron deficiency anaemia. Without treatment, it can cause infection, heart problems (arrhythmia), and slow growth and development of the brain in children.
High ferritin levels can be seen in many conditions. It means that the storage of iron is more than the normal range. There are several conditions that cause increased ferritin are as following:
High ferritin levels are associated with the most common cancers such as liver cancer, breast cancer, blood cancer (leukaemia), and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It increases the chance of developing liver cancer in hemochromatosis patients. Hemochromatosis is a genetic disease which causes iron overload in the body.
High levels of ferritin produce severe inflammatory effects and cytokine storms, which are the main cause of severity and deaths in COVID-19 patients. People who are diabetic and have low immunity show high ferritin levels in their bodies.
Therefore, increased ferritin levels may lead to higher risk factors for developing COVID-19 infection.
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** The text on this website is sourced from websites like emedicine and/or other verified material by government agencies around the globe along with valuable inputs and additions by our team. The content of this page is proofread and updated by the team of doctors, every once in a while, to provide the most accurate information.
