What Are Low Ferritin Levels?

Ferritin is a ubiquitous ferritin with a nano-sized hydrated iron oxide core and a cage-like protein shell. Ferritin is a protein containing 20% iron. Generally, it is found in almost all body tissues, especially liver cells and reticuloendothelial cells, as an iron reserve. Trace amounts of serum ferritin reflect normal iron reserves. Detection of serum ferritin is an important basis for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. ^[1]

The molecular structure of ferritin is a layer of protein shell surrounding iron and

Ferritin is resistant to dilute acid (pH 2.0), dilute alkali (pH 12.0), and resistant to higher temperatures (not at 70-75 ° C water temperature)

The protein shell is hydrophilic, so ferritin is soluble in water and soluble in water.

Extensive storage in animals and plants

Ferritin is an iron-containing protein widely found in various mammals.

The content of ferritin is higher in liver and spleen, among which the content of horse spleen is the highest. The ferritin for labeling is mainly extracted from horse spleen. Horse spleen

1.Electron microscope identification

Drop the ferritin solution on the copper mesh with Formvar membrane with 3%

Serum ferritin is the most abundant protein in the body. Liver, spleen, red bone marrow, and intestinal mucosa are the main sites of iron reserve, accounting for about 66% of total body iron. Determination of serum ferritin is an important indicator for judging the iron storage capacity in the body. It is of great significance in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia, excessive iron load, and nutritional survey. Ferritin as a tumor

Ferritin cause

The reason for the increase in serum ferritin is an increase in the source of ferritin or an obstacle to clearance. For example, when suffering from liver cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, etc., ferritin synthesized by cancer cells increases, which increases serum ferritin. When suffering from liver disease, the damage to liver cells decreases, which increases serum ferritin. ^[3]

The cause of elevated ferritin in liver cancer patients may be:

Hepatoma cells can synthesize and secrete ferritin or isoferritin. ^[8]

The uptake and clearance of ferritin by liver cancer tissues are affected. ^[8]

Hepatocyte damage and necrosis, ferritin stored in the hepatocyte cytoplasm spilled into the blood. Although serum ferritin is not specific, except for liver cancer and pancreatic cancer, which are moderately elevated, other digestive tract tumors such as esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and rectal cancer are not elevated. ^[8]

Ferritin symptoms

The symptoms of high ferritin are as follows:

1. Because liver cancer is cancerous of liver cells, there will be dull pain in the liver area or intermittent dull or tender pain, epigastric pain, etc. ^[3]

2. The initial symptoms of liver cancer are very deep, often just loss of appetite, upset and fatigue in the upper abdomen, and mild liver enlargement on B-ultrasound examination.

3, limb weakness, weight loss, general weakness and fatigue and other symptoms, usually in the late stage is usually bedridden. ^[3]