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Composed of iron and protein,
Ferritin is a storehouse for iron in the body. Measurement provides
an accurate picture of how much iron you have available in reserve. It is
used to evaluate anemia and for diagnosing iron deficiency. The ferritin
test is ordered to see how much iron your body has stored for future
use. The test is done, usually with an iron test and the TIBC to
learn about your iron levels in your blood.
If a blood
count
indicates that your Hemoglobin and Hematocrit are low, especially
if your red cells are smaller and paler than normal (microcytic and
hypochromic in medical terms), iron deficiency is a likely cause for
the anemia..
Ferritin and other iron tests can be used to confirm the
diagnosis.
Ferritin
levels are low in chronic iron deficiency and or if your body
proteins are severely depleted, as in some cases of malnutrition.
On the
other hand this test also may be ordered when one suspects you may
have too much iron, in cases of iron overload, iron poisoning,
situation called hemosiderosis (too much iron accumulating from
disease or ingestion), and hemochromatosis.
Ferritin is
normally found mainly inside of cells, with only a small amount in
the blood. When there is damage to organs that contain ferritin
(especially the liver, spleen, and bone marrow), ferritin levels can
become elevated even though the total amount of iron in the body is
normal. Ferritin levels may not be particularly helpful in persons
with liver disease, chronic infections, cancers, or autoimmune
diseases (which are all associated with organ damage). |
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