Ferritin >3400

Ferritin level > 3400 on routine blood work. Diagnosed with nonA - nonB hepatitis back in the 70's due to multiple transfusions while on dialysis.  Hep C antibody is positive. Are elevations this high seen with  hep C or could this be an acute phase reactant to something else?

[Trinity4]

High ferritin levels are associated with the hepc virus.  Back in the 70's nonA -  nonB was the diagnosis given to those who were infected with hepc.  High ferritin levels can also be an indication of iron overload in the liver which can cause liver damage.  Have you had an HCV RNA by PCR done to confirm or rule out the active hepc virus?  If not, recommend you do that next and if you're positive you should follow up with a good GI or hepatologist as soon as possible.  

Trinity

[RobertBeWell]

Hello,

My ferritin levels are high as well, not quite that high, but around 1100. My serum iron and transferrin saturation are borderline high. My primary care doctor and I discussed this, and we figured out that I was taking in about 5-6 times the daily amount of iron (iron multivitamin + 2-3 bowls a day of iron fortified cereal) that I required. So, I altered my vitamins and eating habits accordingly.

Six weeks later, I had my iron studies redone, and serum iron/transferrin sat had both dropped to normal, however, my ferritin remained unchanged.

As he explained it to me, and I later researched, ferritin is an acute phase reactant - meaning that it can be released into the bloodstream anytime there is inflammation or damage to tissues in the body. Ferritin is a very common protein, and it's the form the body stores iron in.

Since the liver is a large storage area for iron (ferritin), when the liver is inflamed - in our case due to Hep C - it's not at all unusual for the liver to release large amounts of ferritin into the bloodstream. Same principle as elevated ALT/AST... damage occuring, cells dying, releasing their contents into the bloodstream.

Of course, high ferritin levels can also be an indication of excessive iron stores in the body.

Anyhow, my primary care doc didn't seem real concerned about this, and just told me to discuss it with my hepatologist at my first appointment, which is coming up soon.

So, bottom line - elevated ferritin levels are common in Hep C patients. They may or may not be an indication of excessive iron stores. Further testing is needed.

Did you happen to have the other iron related parameters tested? Like serum iron, transferrin saturation, TIBC, and UIBC?

[RobertBeWell]

Also, since you are Anti-HCV positive, have you had a confirmation test done to see if a chronic infection exists?

Definitely something to consider, especially if you believe you were exposed over 30+ years ago.