High levels of ferritin can indicate an iron storage disorder such as haemochromatosis – a genetic disorder in which there is excessive accumulation of iron in the body causing iron overload or chronic disease, alcoholism. Ferritin is also an acute-phase protein and can increase with inflammation, e.g. infection or malignancy.
A low ferritin level is a sensitive and specific indicator of low total body iron stores causing an iron deficiency anaemia, a reduction in the number of oxygen carrying red blood cells.
