title: [Clinical significance of increased serum ferritin levels].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine the diagnostic alternatives indicated by serum ferritin levels (2000 ng/ml, and to establish the clinical processes associated with very high levels (5000-10 000 ng/ml).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed cases with serum levels of ferritin serum equal to or greater than 2000 ng/ml between March 2000 and November 2001. Data were obtained from the laboratory's computerized database. Patients' medical records were reviewed by means of a protocol which established the clinical conditions associated with these serum ferritin values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study involved 135 patients with ferritin levels equal to or greater than 2000 ng/ml. Clinical syndromes included hematological diseases (45.9%), liver diseases (23%), chronic renal failure (17.78%), neoplastic diseases (10.4%), systemic inflammatory diseases (7.4%), chronic transfusions (7.4%), and non-HIV systemic infections (5.9%). Syndromes which are not usually associated with extreme serum ferritin levels were identified in 3.7% of the patients. The highest concentrations were seen in the systemic inflammatory disease group: 5856 (2492) ng/ml. Within this group, four patients with adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) displayed the highest mean ferritin levels: 11 322 (5474) ng/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated serum ferritin levels act as a non-specific marker for a large number of disorders. In certain inflammatory diseases such as adult onset Still's disease (AOSD), this finding may be an important tool.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Rafael Angel
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fernández de la Puebla
authors.forename: Cristóbal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espejo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fuentes
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D015510:Clinical Medicine; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016706:Still's Disease, Adult-Onset / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005293:Ferritins