what can cause elevated ferritin???

I had a VSG about two months ago.  My recent blood tests showed my ferritin to be 444 and the range is 10-232.  I take one multi-vitamin a day and no other vitamins. Does anyone know what can cause this elevation? Is it anything I need to worry about?

Thanks for any help anyone can give.

DrPepper

Hi, Yes, elevated ferritin is a concern & needs a full evaluation. You may consider asking for a referral to a GASTROENTEROLOGIST. Ferritin can be high with excessive iron intake, but since you are not taking iron, that's not the reason. Ferritin can be high due to infection - are you having a fever? How do you feel? There are many reasons why it could be high - it's essential that you have a full work up for this. My guess as to why it's high is because of fatty liver. Most people with obesity do have a fattly liver. Your ferritin could be high because your liver is damaged - but I'm not a doctor, obviously. I think it's best for you to be evaluated by a gastroenterologist. Did you discuss this lab value with your doctor?

Hi and thanks for helping me. I don't feel feverish but I am completely exhausted (more so than usual) and my strength level is even lower than usual too. My surgeon did a liver biopsy (because of previously elevated lever enzymes) when he did my VSG and nothing showed up on the biopsy. I haven't discussed the lab value with my doctor, although the nurse said she would show him all of my labs last week and call me if there were any problems. I didn't hear from them  so I guess they weren't concerned about it. I can talk to him about when I see him in the middle of January. I think my PCP also received a copy of these labs too and she didn't say anything either. I'm confused by the fact that they didn't say anything because my level of ferritin is so much above the normal level. I can ask about the gastroenterologist suggestion too. Thanks again and take care.