Ferritin, a major iron storage protein, is essential to iron homeostasis and is involved in a wide range of physiologic and pathologic processes. Ferritin makes iron available for critical cellular processes while protecting lipids, DNA, and proteins from the potentially toxic effects of iron. In clinical medicine, ferritin is predominantly utilized as a marker of total body iron stores. In cases of iron deficiency and overload, serum ferritin serves a critical role in both diagnosis and management. It is clear that low ferritin values less than References range are usually representative of body iron deficiency. Recent study suggests that ferritin provides a more sensitive, specific and reliable measurement for determining iron deficiency at an early stage. On other hand, patients with ferritin levels that are higher than the References range may be indicative of conditions such as iron overload, infections, inflammations, collagen diseases, hepatic diseases, neoplastic disease and chronic renal failure.
