Double red blood cell donors with increased ferritin levels: a descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Clinical Chemistry
• Genetics

Background:

• Monitoring ferritin levels is proposed to mitigate iron loss in blood donors.
• Elevated ferritin levels are occasionally observed in donors undergoing regular screening.
• This study investigates the clinical and laboratory findings in double red blood cell (DRBC) donors with high ferritin levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causes and implications of high ferritin levels in DRBC donors.
• To determine the prevalence of iron overload and hemochromatosis among donors with elevated ferritin.
• To assess the transient nature of high ferritin levels in this donor population.

Main Methods:

• Ferritin levels were measured in all DRBC donors at each donation.
• Donors with high ferritin underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation.
• Genetic analysis for hemochromatosis mutations (C282Y, H63D) was performed.

Main Results:

• 165 of 2757 DRBC donors had at least one high ferritin level.
• 61 of 80 evaluated donors normalized ferritin levels upon follow-up.
• Only 16 donors had high serum iron; 8 were homozygous for hemochromatosis mutations.

Conclusions:

• High ferritin levels in DRBC donors are frequently transient.
• Iron overload is uncommon in donors with elevated ferritin levels.
• Extensive laboratory investigation is recommended only for persistently high ferritin levels.