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Ferritin in serum and urine: A pilot study
Timothy M Bahr1, Robert D Christensen2, Diane M Ward3
1Division of Neonatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Blood Cells, Molecules & Diseases
|February 20, 2019
Summary
Low urine ferritin may serve as a non-invasive screen for iron deficiency. This pilot study found urine ferritin correlates with serum ferritin, suggesting potential for pediatric screening without blood draws.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Serum ferritin is a key indicator of total body iron stores and iron deficiency.
- Current methods for assessing iron deficiency, especially in infants, often require invasive procedures like phlebotomy.
- The potential of urine ferritin as a non-invasive screening tool for iron deficiency remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of using urine ferritin as a non-invasive marker for iron deficiency.
- To determine if urine ferritin levels correlate with serum ferritin levels across different populations.
- To assess the potential of urine ferritin screening in neonates and young children.
Main Methods:
- A pilot feasibility study was conducted measuring ferritin in paired serum and urine samples.
- Participants included healthy adult males, healthy term neonates, growing preterm neonates, and children with elevated serum ferritin due to liver disorders or iron overload.
- Ferritin levels were quantified, and correlations between serum and urine ferritin were analyzed using Spearman correlation.
Main Results:
- Ferritin was successfully detected in all tested urine samples.
- A significant correlation was observed between paired serum and urine ferritin levels (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.78).
- The findings support the measurability and correlation of urine ferritin with serum ferritin.
Conclusions:
- Urine ferritin is measurable and correlates with serum ferritin, indicating its potential as a non-invasive biomarker.
- Further research into urinary ferritin screening in specific populations is warranted.
- This approach could offer a valuable, non-invasive method for assessing iron status, particularly in infants and children.
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