Ferritin blood test - what is it?
The content of the article:
- Ferritin - what is it?
- When is a ferritin test prescribed?
- How to get tested for ferritin?
- What does ferritin mean in a blood test?
What does a ferritin blood test mean? A biochemical blood test with a mandatory study of ferritin is prescribed to assess iron stores, to study the characteristics of its metabolism.
One of the most important trace elements for the human body is iron. It is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin, the synthesis of a number of hormones, the maintenance of immunity and many other functions.
Iron metabolism is very well regulated. When the body lacks it, its absorption in the intestines increases. Once in the bloodstream, iron immediately binds to specific proteins and is used to meet current needs. In the case of a sufficient supply of iron, its excess is deposited (stored in reserve) mainly in the form of ferritin.
Diseases of the digestive system, bleeding (including heavy menstruation), pregnancy, and poor nutrition can lead to impaired absorption of iron and / or its increased loss.
Ferritin - what is it?
Ferritin is a spherical complex protein. In the center of the sphere there are up to 4,000 molecules of phosphate and iron hydroxide, and on the outside it is covered with a shell called apoferritin.
Ferritin is a sphere containing iron hydroxide and phosphate molecules
Ferritin synthesis occurs in the cells of the organs of the reticuloendothelial system. The main function of this compound is the accumulation of iron in a soluble trivalent form that is non-toxic to humans.
Ferritin accumulates in significant amounts in the liver, which serves as its main depot. In addition, it is found in the bone marrow, kidney tissue, and the thyroid gland. Plasma ferritin level is an indicator of a patient's iron saturation. Normally, 1 μg / L of ferritin in the blood corresponds to about 8 mg of iron stored in reserve.
In addition, ferritin belongs to the group of acute phase proteins that provide complex preimmune (nonspecific) protection of a person against pathogenic microorganisms.
Microbes need iron for their vital processes, they need it for the synthesis of a number of enzymes. Therefore, when pathogens enter the body, the amount of ferritin in the blood increases, which in turn leads to a decrease in the concentration of serum iron. Thus, increased ferritin may indicate the presence of an inflammatory disease.
When is a ferritin test prescribed?
The main indications for performing a study to determine the content of ferritin in the blood:
- differential diagnosis of anemias;
- diagnostics of latent iron deficiency - a pathological condition when the hemoglobin level is still within the normal range, but the body's iron stores are depleted;
- assessment of iron stores in patients with chronic renal failure, especially those on hemodialysis;
- assessment of the effectiveness of therapy with preoral iron preparations (normally, after 5 days from the start of treatment, the ferritin level should increase by 50 mg / dl or more).
There are a number of clinical symptoms, the presence of which suggests that the patient has increased or, conversely, decreased ferritin. These include:
- increased fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome;
- chronic diarrhea;
- menorrhagia and metrorrhagia;
- pallor of the skin and mucous membranes;
- frequent and long-term infectious and inflammatory diseases;
- weight loss unexplained by objective reasons;
- drowsiness;
- hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen and liver);
- hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid function);
- hypogonadism (failure of testicular function, leading to a decrease in testosterone secretion).
Therefore, when these symptoms are detected, the patient is recommended to conduct a blood test for ferritin as part of diagnostic measures.
How to get tested for ferritin?
No special preparation is required for ferritin testing. Blood sampling is carried out according to the general rules for biochemical analysis:
- blood is taken in the morning on an empty stomach;
- before taking the analysis, you should avoid strong physical and psycho-emotional overwork;
- if the patient has had blood transfusions within the last four months, this should be indicated in the direction.
In cases where the patient cannot come to the laboratory in the morning, then blood for research can be taken at any other time. In this case, it is necessary not to eat food for 4-5 hours before blood sampling.
What does ferritin mean in a blood test?
The level of serum ferritin makes it possible to judge the reserves of iron, and its increased concentration indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the patient's body.
Normal values of the content of ferritin in blood plasma depend on the age and gender of the patient. They are presented in the table:
| Age | Ferritin level, μg / l |
| 1 to 2 months | 200 to 600 |
| 2 to 5 months | 50 to 200 |
| 5 months to 15 years | 7 to 140 |
| Girls over 15 and women | 10 to 120 |
| Boys over 15 and men | 20 to 250 |
In some laboratories, the serum ferritin reference values may differ from the data presented in the table. This is due to the peculiarities of the methods and reagents used. Therefore, when decoding a blood test, one should be guided by the norm values adopted in the laboratory where it was performed.
Elevated serum ferritin is detected in the following cases:
- hemochromatosis (bronze diabetes, pigmentary cirrhosis) is a hereditary disease caused by a violation of iron metabolism;
- liver pathology (among the most common in adults - alcoholic hepatitis);
- infectious and inflammatory diseases (respiratory tract infections, osteomyelitis, etc.);
- systemic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus);
- burns;
- acute forms of leukemia;
- Hodgkin's lymphoma;
- mammary cancer;
- prolonged fasting;
- oral contraception.
Low plasma ferritin is observed in patients with the following diseases:
- latent iron deficiency;
- Iron-deficiency anemia;
- celiac disease.
An analysis for ferritin during pregnancy makes it possible to diagnose a woman's state of latent iron deficiency in a timely manner and to carry out the necessary therapy, which, in turn, prevents the development of iron deficiency anemia in the future and a number of complications to which anemia in pregnant women can lead.
In order to timely identify and eliminate iron deficiency anemia, pregnant women are tested for ferritin
With an increased or decreased level of ferritin in the blood serum, patients are assigned other laboratory tests to determine the exact cause of the diagnosed change. The following indicators are most often determined:
- hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, determination of erythrocyte indices, counting leukocytes and leukocyte counts (complete blood count);
- the number of reticulocytes;
- serum iron;
- the level of B vitamins;
- TIBSS (total iron-binding capacity of blood serum);
- renal tests (urea, creatinine, Rehberg's test);
- liver function tests (enzymes, bilirubin);
- erythropoietin;
- C-peptide;
- thyroid hormones;
- alpha-amylase.
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Elena Minkina Doctor anesthesiologist-resuscitator About the author
Education: graduated from the Tashkent State Medical Institute, specializing in general medicine in 1991. Repeatedly passed refresher courses.
Work experience: anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the city maternity complex, resuscitator of the hemodialysis department.
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