Ferritin
What do the test results mean?
Abnormally high amounts of ferritin may suggest:
alcoholic liver disease
hemochromatosis,
a genetic disease that causes the body to absorb and store too much iron
hemosiderosis,
a condition in which iron builds up in the lungs and liver
hemolytic anemia,
which is caused by destruction of red blood cells
Hodgkin's lymphoma,
a cancer of the blood
megaloblastic anemia,
in which the bone marrow produces large, abnormal red blood cells
inflammatory disease
advanced cancer
leukemia,
cancer of the blood
cirrhosis,
which is destruction of the normal liver tissue
chronic hepatitis,
an inflammation of the liver that lasts at least 6 months
Abnormally low amounts of ferritin may be caused by:
chronic gastrointestinal bleeding
heavy menstrual bleeding
iron deficiency anemia, which is a low red blood cell count caused by a deficiency of iron
in the diet
|
Previous section
