Clinical usefulness of serum ferritin level in patients with fatty liver

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Recently several parameters, such as serum ferritin, have emerged as possible predictors for the severity of NAFLD and insulin sensitivity. We aimed to investigate the value of serum ferritin level as a useful biomarker for the prediction of disease severity in patients with NAFLD. Methods: This was a prospective cross sectional study in which demographic, clinical and laboratory data of 101 adult patients with NAFLD were analyzed. Results: In our patients population with mean age of 49.2 years and mean BMI of 31.9, it was also observed that ferritin level did not have a significant correlation with the stage of fibrosis (p = 0.835). Conclusion: Hyperferritinemia is common in patients with NAFLD but the extent of serum ferritin elevations do not predict the stage of underlying NAFLD disease.

Serum Hepcidin Levels in Relation to Serum Iron and Ferritin in Obese Women with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

“…Regarding, serum ferritin levels' clinical utility in fatty liver patients, according to Mohammed et al (20) , hyperferritinemia is prevalent in NAFLD patients, although the degree of serum ferritin increases does not indicate the stage of the underlying condition. Ferritin has been demonstrated to be a predictor of advanced fibrosis, obesity, IR, and cardiovascular disease have all been linked to hyperferritinemia, diseases connected to NAFLD.…”

“…Ferritin has been demonstrated to be a predictor of advanced fibrosis, obesity, IR, and cardiovascular disease have all been linked to hyperferritinemia, diseases connected to NAFLD. It has been suggested that serum ferritin, but not serum iron, transferrin saturation, or hepatic iron concentration, is greater in cases with severe fibrosis compared to moderate fibrosis, but not in individuals with steatosis or inflammation, and that it can in an independent manner predict extensive fibrosis (20) . Similarly, according to Kowdley and colleagues (21) , there is a direct link between elevated blood ferritin levels and a higher risk of progressive fibrosis in NAFLD.…”