What should I pay attention to when ferritin is high

Ferritin is a very important iron storage protein in the human body, and its content is of great significance for the diagnosis of certain diseases. Generally speaking, low ferritin levels are more likely to occur in pregnant women due to acute anemia. High ferritin levels should be taken seriously, as they are often a sign of acute or chronic liver damage and liver cancer. So, what should we pay attention to if ferritin is high? Let’s take a look below.

High ferritin and normal liver function

Ferritin is a soluble tissue protein that stores iron in our body. Its increase indicates that something is wrong with the body, which may be acute or chronic liver damage and liver cancer. However, some people’s test results show that their ferritin levels are high but their liver function is normal. What is the reason for this? It turns out that the clinical causes of high ferritin levels are not only liver disease and liver cancer. Excessive blood transfusions, malnutrition, malignant tumors, inflammation, etc. may also cause high ferritin levels. In addition to diseases such as acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cancer, and hepatitis B, primary hemochromatosis, repeated blood transfusions, and inappropriate iron therapy can also cause high ferritin levels. When suffering from diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia, lymphoma, pancreatic tumor, and inflammation, high ferritin levels can also be caused.

It should be noted that if a hepatitis B patient suddenly has high ferritin levels, it is generally due to the worsening of the hepatitis B condition. At this time, the patient's condition is very serious and requires timely treatment.

High ferritin level and abnormal liver function

Ferritin is one of the important indicators for determining liver cancer and is generally used in conjunction with alpha-fetoprotein testing. If the alpha-fetoprotein test value is greater than the normal value of alpha-fetoprotein, that is, greater than 400 units/L, it means that there is a high probability of liver cancer. If the ferritin level is high and the liver function is abnormal, liver cancer may be considered. If you are a hepatitis B patient, you must receive treatment as soon as possible because the high ferritin level is a sign of worsening disease.

Normal ferritin value

The normal value of ferritin varies according to different detection methods, but the general normal value is about 80-130ug/L (80-130ng/ml) for men and about 35-55ug/L (35-55ng/ml) for women. However, during pregnancy, women may experience a decrease in serum iron levels, and it will also decrease in acute anemia. Its increase indicates that the body may have acute or chronic liver damage and liver cancer.

What causes high ferritin

The main reason for the increase in serum ferritin is an increase in the source of ferritin or the existence of clearance disorders. Generally, liver cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, etc. can cause this phenomenon. The ferritin synthesized by cancer cells increases, and serum ferritin will rise. Moreover, liver disease can cause liver cell damage and decreased function, and serum ferritin levels can also increase.

Patients with liver cancer will also have elevated ferritin levels because liver cancer cells can synthesize and secrete ferritin or isoferritin. Liver cancer tissue affects the uptake and clearance of ferritin. When liver cells are damaged and necrotic, ferritin stored in the liver cell cytoplasm will overflow into the blood, causing elevated ferritin levels.