Ferritin, Human spleen

Ferritin is a globular protein complex consisting of 24 protein subunits and is the primary intracellular iron-storage protein in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, keeping iron in a soluble and non-toxic form. Human Serum ferritin levels are measured in patients as part of the iron studies workup for anemia and for restless leg syndrome. Human ferritin levels have a direct correlation with the total amount of iron stored in the body and are also indicative of the erosion of iron stores during pregnancy. Research reports that individuals with true iron-deficiency anemia exhibit extremely low human serum ferritin values. Additional human ferritin research reports that human serum ferritin measurement is sero-diagnosis of cancer whereby high levels of human serum ferritin which are not related to body-iron stores have been observed.