[Clinical evaluation of a hyperferritinemia]

Abstract

A hyperferritinemia has to be interpreted in relation with age and sex. The clinical evaluation begins with the interpretation of transferrine saturation which has to be controlled with a second fasting blood test. In case of high transferrine saturation associated with hyperferritinemia, HFE testing has first to be realized since the first diagnosis suspected is a HFE hemochromatosis. In case of normal transferrine saturation associated with a hyperferritinemia, the more frequent diagnosis is a metabolic syndrome, an inflammatory syndrome, a syndrome of cellular lysis or an excessive alcohol consumption. In case of HFE hemochromatosis, phlebotomy prevents complications. The goal is to obtain and to maintain a normal-low ferritin level. In case of metabolic syndrome, phlebotomy could be useful in case of high hepatic iron concentration measured with MRI or in case of on-alcoholic steato-hepatitis.