Ferritin is a protein with large molecular weight, which is the main storage form of iron. Ferritin is measured at 400ng/ml as the upper limit of normal, and is often elevated and greater than this value in certain tumors, commonly found in: acute leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, lung cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer and prostate cancer. Detection of ferritin has diagnostic value for liver metastatic tumors. 76% of patients with liver metastases have ferritin levels higher than 400 ng/ml, and the combination of testing with AFP can improve the diagnostic rate, especially in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have normal AFP. Elevated ferritin may be due to cell necrosis, blocked erythropoiesis or increased synthesis in tumor tissue.

Ferritin measurement is suitable for understanding the iron metabolism in the body. Detection of ferritin at the beginning of treatment can reflect the body's iron stores at that time, and can lead to early detection of insufficient iron storage in the reticuloendothelial system. In clinical practice, a threshold of 20 ng/ml is effective in determining latent iron deficiency and suggesting depletion of iron stores. Normally stored iron is available for hemoglobin synthesis, and below 12 ng/ml, latent iron insufficiency is judged to be present. Both of these measurements, without the need for further laboratory references, remain true even in the presence of normal hemocyte morphology. The presence of iron deficiency can be suggested if it is accompanied by microcytic hypochromic anemia. If the ferritin level is high, and the possibility of an abnormal iron supply is ruled out, it is a reflection of a condition of iron overload in the body.

Normal reference values:

Adult male: 30-400ng/ml

Adult female: 13-150ng/ml