What Is Considered a Dangerously Low/High Ferritin Level?

Conditions where ferritin is elevated

• Liver disease: This is not only limited to hemochromatosis, but also all conditions associated with cirrhosis and acute liver affection. It is thought to result from inflammation or the occurrence of portal hypertension (increased blood pressure within the blood vessels of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver.
• Infection and inflammation: It is important to understand that ferritin is not an ideal inflammatory marker and is never used alone to assess inflammation. Other more specific markers include C reactive protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR).
• Chronic alcoholism: Chronic alcoholism can cause a mild elevation of ferritin, and it is probably due to liver damage caused by the condition.
• Hemochromatosis: Hemochromatosis is iron overload, which is caused almost always by repeated blood transfusion. It results in the accumulation of iron in all body tissues including the liver, the heart, the pancreas, and different glands.