[Hyperferritinemia and diseases]

Ferritin is the principal iron storage protein participating in iron metabolism. As serum ferritin levels often reflect the amount of storage iron in the body, physicians have measured serum ferritin in order to evaluate iron deficiency or overload. Although a rise in serum ferritin concentration occurs in iron overload, hyperferritinemia without it has been reported in some inflammatory diseases and malignancies. Some cytokines have been reported to be responsible for the elevation of ferritin production. Studies on serum isoferritin in adult Still's disease and other diseases, especially measurements of the proportion of glycosylated ferritin, have been widely accepted. Pathophysiological properties of the increased serum ferritin are not clear. However, we should be aware that the hyperferritinemia is not a result, but is profoundly participating in the disease process.