High ferritin levels suggest an excess of iron in the body, which can be due to various conditions and should not be ignored, as prolonged high iron levels can lead to damage in organs such as the liver and heart.
Causes of High Ferritin Levels:
- Hemochromatosis: This genetic disorder causes the body to absorb too much iron from food, leading to iron overload.
- Chronic inflammation: Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease, or kidney disease can raise ferritin levels, as ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant (increases during inflammation).
- Liver disease: Conditions such as alcoholic liver disease or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can lead to elevated ferritin.
- Infections or cancers: Ferritin can rise in response to infections or certain cancers, such as leukemia or lymphoma.
Health Implications of High Ferritin:
- Organ damage: Excess iron can deposit in the liver, heart, pancreas, and joints, leading to conditions such as cirrhosis, heart disease, and diabetes.
- Fatigue and joint pain: These are common symptoms when ferritin levels are high due to iron overload.
Treatment Options:
- Phlebotomy: Regular blood removal to lower iron levels is a common treatment for hemochromatosis.
- Chelation therapy: Medications like deferoxamine help remove excess iron from the body.
- Address underlying inflammation: Treating any underlying conditions, such as infections or chronic diseases, is also important to normalize ferritin levels.
Recommended Tests:
- Serum Iron Test
Measures the amount of iron in the blood, useful in evaluating iron overload conditions like hemochromatosis.
Serum Iron Test - Liver Function Test (AST/ALT)
Evaluates liver health, particularly important in cases of high ferritin linked to liver disease.
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Test
