Hyperferritinemia, chronic hepatitis C and COVID-19: what do they have in common?

Abstract

Ferritin is one of the key proteins, which has involved in the regulation of iron homeostasis in the body. Ferritin reduced values are often associated with changes in the total iron supply in the body. In addition, ferritin is involved in immune processes and can have both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Ferritin changes in laboratory values is a rather nonspecific sign that occurs with immunoinflammatory and infectious diseases, as well as the development of iron overload. It can, among other things, accompany the course of new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and chronic viral hepatitis C (CHC) in patients. Hyperferritinemia in these two diseases may be a marker of a more severe course and adverse patient outcome, making the study of ferritin levels an extremely important task for the practitioner. Therefore, the purpose of this review of the scientific literature was to investigate the possible relationship between Hyperferritinemia, COVID-19 and CHC. It has been reported that hyperferritinemia is quite often associated with a more severe form of both COVID-19 and CHC. Several studies have suggested that the risk of mortality may be increased if they are combined. In this regard, an important conclusion was made about measuring baseline ferritin levels with subsequent dynamic monitoring in this group of patients.