[Evaluation of hyperferitinemia]

Hyperferritinaemia is a common laboratory finding, but true iron overload is present in only about 10 % of cases. A thorough clinical history and laboratory evaluation are essential for diagnosis. In about 90 % of cases, hyperferritinaemia is associated with acute infections, inflammatory conditions, or autoimmune diseases, and does not indicate iron overload. The remaining 10 % of cases of true iron overload arise from either excessive parenteral iron administration or increased intestinal absorption, often linked to hepcidin deficiency. Prompt recognition of these cases is critical, as timely intervention can prevent organ damage. To facilitate early treatment-particularly initiation of phlebotomy-the classification of haemochromatosis has recently been simplified.