Serum ferritin increases during deep saturation dives

Serum ferritin levels were determined in six U.S. Navy divers during a 29d helium-oxygen saturation dive. Progressive increases in serum ferritin were observed during compression. These increases were maintained during decompression and for 1 week postdive. No relationship was found between serum ferritin increases and the development of decompression sickness (DCS). However, the two divers who subsequently developed DCS had significantly higher serum ferritin levels than those divers who remained free of DCS. These findings indicate that DCS does not result in differential serum ferritin variability and may, therefore, not be involved directly in aseptic bone necrosis (ABN) as postulated earlier by others. However, high baseline levels of serum ferritin may be involved in both DCS and ABN.