[Serum ferritin- diagnostic and clinical significance]

The immunoradiometric measurement of ferritin--a major iron storage protein, in serum, provides a new precise method for determination of storage iron with good clinical evaluation. There is a positive correlation between serum ferritin and other direct or indirect parameters of storage iron. In clinical practice determination of serum ferritin is important in patients undergoing regular dialysis treatment, for rheumatoid arthritis, normal and pathological pregnancy and as controls for therapy in iron deficiency, or iron overload.