Iron overload accounts for only a few cases of high serum ferritin

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Iron overload accounts for only a few cases of high serum ferritin

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Guest writer

Geoff Smith
Geoff Smith is a chemical pathologist at Southern Community Laboratories, Dunedin

FROM THE LAB

A high serum ferritin level without other abnormal iron study results means the focus should be on finding causes other than iron overload for the patient’s result

Key points, High ferritin level is common but rarely due to the presence of iron overload.   If high ferritin level is seen, review serum iron and transferrin