[Factors influencing the serum ferritin level in acute leukemia patients before chemotherapy]

Serum ferritin level was studied in 158 adult patients with different forms and variants of leukemia, and it was found to be elevated in 85.4% of cases. A number of factors influencing ferritin concentration in the blood serum have been established: a high degree of serum iron deficiency, leukemic intoxication, infectious complications (pneumonia, sepsis, necrosis, etc.), hemolytic syndrome. All these factors should be taken into consideration in evaluating serum ferritin levels in acute leukemia patients.