Ferritiinitaso

Ferritiinitaso, or ferritin level, is a medical measure of the concentration of ferritin in the blood. Ferritin is a protein complex that stores iron and releases it in a controlled way; while most ferritin resides inside cells, a small amount circulates in the serum, and serum ferritin is widely used as a marker of the body's iron stores.

Interpreting ferritin results requires context. Low ferritin levels typically indicate depleted iron stores and are commonly seen in iron deficiency anemia. High ferritin levels can reflect iron overload conditions such as hereditary hemochromatosis or liver disease, but ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant and can rise during infection, inflammation, or malignancy even when iron stores are normal. Because ferritin can be influenced by non-iron-related factors, it is often interpreted alongside other iron studies such as serum iron, transferrin saturation, and inflammatory markers.

Measurement and interpretation considerations. Ferritin is measured by immunoassay, and reference ranges vary by laboratory and by age and sex. In adults, general guidelines place low ferritin below the laboratory reference cutoff, with higher values suggesting adequate or excess iron stores; extremely high ferritin may prompt evaluation for iron overload or inflammatory conditions. Because ferritin can be affected by inflammation, clinicians often interpret results with attention to C-reactive protein or other indicators of acute illness.