What does ferritin level tell you?
Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron. A ferritin test helps your doctor understand how much iron your body stores. If a ferritin test reveals that your blood ferritin level is lower than normal, it indicates your body’s iron stores are low and you have iron deficiency. As a result, you could be anemic.
What causes high ferritin levels?
The most common causes of elevated ferritin levels are obesity, inflammation, and daily alcohol intake. The most common cause of genetic-related elevated ferritin levels is the condition hemochromatosis. Additional causes include diabetes and metabolic syndrome [5, 6].
What are the symptoms of high ferritin levels?
Symptoms of excess ferritin include:
- stomach pain.
- heart palpitations or chest pains.
- unexplained weakness.
- joint pain.
- unexplained fatigue.
What level of ferritin is too high?
Many laboratories consider serum ferritin levels greater than 200 ng/mL in women and greater than 300 ng/mL in men to be abnormal.
Is low ferritin serious?
A result of low ferritin is strong evidence of an iron deficiency. The body requires iron to make hemoglobin, which is a protein in red blood cells that transfers oxygen from the lungs around the body. Without enough iron, a person may develop anemia.
What happens if ferritin is low?
Low levels of ferritin lead to iron-deficiency anemia. This means you have too few red blood cells. Iron deficiency can come from a poor diet or blood loss. Or your body may have trouble absorbing iron from food.
Is ferritin the same as hemoglobin?
Serum ferritin is a measure of iron stores and is the most sensitive biomarker to test for early stages of iron deficiency as well as iron deficiency anemia. Sensitivity of ferritin test is 89% for diagnosis of iron depletion compared with hemoglobin, which is only 26%.
How much does serum ferritin cost?
Ferritin. On MDsave, the cost of a Ferritin ranges from $20 to $64. Compare local prices, save money, and book your procedure — all in one place with MDsave. Read more about how it works.
What is considered a dangerously high ferritin level?
Ferritin levels that are too high can indicate certain conditions. One example is hemochromatosis, which is when your body absorbs too much iron. Other conditions that cause high iron levels include: rheumatoid arthritis. hyperthyroidism. adult-onset Still’s disease. type 2 diabetes. leukemia.
What is the difference between ferritin and transferrin?
The key difference between ferritin and transferrin is that ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the blood whereas transferrin is a protein that can combine with ferritin and move to sites where new blood cells are formed. Ferritin and transferrin are proteins that are important in storing and transporting iron in the blood.