Ferritin for the clinician

• Published in: Blood reviews Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 95 - 104
• Main Authors: Knovich, Mary Ann, Storey, Jonathan A, Coffman, Lan G, Torti, Suzy V, Torti, Frank M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; Apoferritins - blood; Apoferritins - chemistry; Apoferritins - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of red blood cells; Ferritin; Ferritins - blood; Ferritins - chemistry; Ferritins - metabolism; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Homeostasis - physiology; Humans; Iron; Iron - blood; Iron - metabolism; Iron Metabolism Disorders - metabolism; Iron Metabolism Disorders - therapy; Kininogens - metabolism; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Metals (hemochromatosis...); Neoplasms - metabolism; Other metabolic disorders; Iron; Ferritin; Human; Iron overload; Nervous system diseases; Hematology; Pathogenesis; Biological marker; Metabolic diseases; Hemopathy; Sideroblastic anemia; Histiocytosis; Inorganic element; Hemophagocytic syndrome; Iron storage; Degenerative disease; Diagnosis; Sideropenia
• ISSN: 0268-960X; 1532-1681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2008.08.001

Summary Ferritin, a major iron storage protein, is essential to iron homeostasis and is involved in a wide range of physiologic and pathologic processes. In clinical medicine, ferritin is predominantly utilized as a serum marker of total body iron stores. In cases of iron deficiency and overload, serum ferritin serves a critical role in both diagnosis and management. Elevated serum and tissue ferritin are linked to coronary artery disease, malignancy, and poor outcomes following stem cell transplantation. Ferritin is directly implicated in less common but potentially devastating human diseases including sideroblastic anemias, neurodegenerative disorders, and hemophagocytic syndrome. Additionally, recent research describes novel functions of ferritin independent of iron storage.