[Clinical significance of increased serum ferritin levels].
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.
Ramírez
Carmen
C
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Cordoba, Spain.
Rubio
Carmen
C
Fernández de la Puebla
Rafael Angel
RA
Aguilera
Cristóbal
C
Espejo
Isabel
I
Fuentes
Francisco
F
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*
D015415:Biomarkers; D005293:Ferritins