[Serum ferritin in rheumatoid arthritis: an acute phase protein or indication of iron deposits?].

Serum ferritin was determined in 24 menopausal women who did not have any iron metabolic disorders but were suffering from RA. We furthermore investigated its correlation to various clinical and laboratory indexes of activity. The regression analysis revealed significant coefficients of direct correlation between serum ferritin, ESR, and Ritchie's index as well as an indirect correlation to the hematic haemoglobin and to serum iron. These data would apparently be in agreement with the hypothesis that, during the course of RA, serum ferritin assumes the significance of an acute phase protein; nonetheless, in spite of this, these data would induce one to believe that the serum ferritin levels closely reflect that RES iron deposits, the extent of which is influenced by chronic phlogosis.