Serum ferritin concentration: a reliable guide to iron overload in uremic and hemodialyzed patients.

The inter-relationships between serum ferritin, hemoglobin, serum iron and total body iron stores were studied in 20 patients with chronic renal failure treated conservatively and in 20 patients on regular hemodialysis. There was no relationship between serum iron or transferrin and bone marrow iron deposits, but serum ferritin concentration was a good indicator of increased marrow iron stores. All patients with serum ferritin levels above 300 microgram/l had increased iron stores. Serum ferritin assay is a useful non-invasive technique for detecting iron overload in uremic and hemodialyzed patients.