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The ferritin levels measured usually have a direct correlation with the total amount of iron stored in the body. However, ferritin levels may be artificially high in cases of anemia of chronic disease, where ferritin is elevated in its capacity as an inflammatory acute phase protein and not as a marker for iron overload. [citation needed]
Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) [1] [2] or anemia of chronic inflammation [3] is a form of anemia seen in chronic infection, chronic immune activation, and malignancy. These conditions all produce elevation of interleukin-6 , which stimulates hepcidin production and release from the liver.
Hepcidin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HAMP gene. Hepcidin is a key regulator of the entry of iron into the circulation in mammals. [6]During conditions in which the hepcidin level is abnormally high, such as inflammation, serum iron falls due to iron trapping within macrophages and liver cells and decreased gut iron absorption.
Inflammatory cytokines stimulate the liver to produce the iron metabolism regulator protein hepcidin, that reduces available iron. If hepcidin levels increase because of non-bacterial sources of inflammation, like viral infection, cancer, auto-immune diseases or other chronic diseases, then the anemia of chronic disease may result. In this case ...
However ferritin levels may be elevated due to a variety of other causes including obesity, infection, inflammation (as an acute phase protein), chronic alcohol intake, liver disease, kidney disease, and cancer. [7] [32] [33] In males and postmenopausal females, normal range of serum ferritin is between 12 and 300 ng/mL (670 pmol/L) .
However, inflammatory and neoplastic disorders can cause ferritin levels to increase – this may be seen in cases of hepatitis, leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract tumors. [4] The most sensitive and specific criterion for iron-deficient erythropoiesis is depleted iron stores in the bone marrow. However, in practice, a ...
Often, symptoms come on gradually over weeks to months. [2] While the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not clear, it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. [1] The underlying mechanism involves the body's immune system attacking the joints. [1] This results in inflammation and thickening of the joint capsule. [1]
Hemosiderin or haemosiderin is an iron-storage complex that is composed of partially digested ferritin and lysosomes. The breakdown of heme gives rise to biliverdin and iron. [1] [2] The body then traps the released iron and stores it as hemosiderin in tissues. [3] Hemosiderin is also generated from the abnormal metabolic pathway of ferritin. [3]