McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine

Ferritin levels in the elderly

2020-10-02

Mark Crowther

Recorded at the 5th McMaster International Review Course in Internal Medicine (MIRCIM).

Dr Mark Crowther is a professor and chair of the Department of Medicine and the Leo Pharma Chair in Thromboembolism Research at McMaster University.

Are ferritin levels affected by age or some of the typical geriatric conditions?

Mark Crowther, MD, MSc: For sure. Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant like many others and it goes up with age. You need to be wary that it also goes up with other causes of acute-phase reactions and you should always evaluate the ferritin level in light of the patient’s clinical characteristics.

See also

Low-dose DOACs in VTE What is the use of low-dose direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in venous thromboembolism (VTE)?
Bleeding risk evaluation before anticoagulant therapy How to properly evaluate bleeding risk before starting anticoagulation?
VTE: 2018 ASH prevention guidelines A lecture by Dr Susan Kahn, from McGill University, Canada, delivered at McMaster International Review Course in Internal Medicine (MIRCIM) in May 2019.
Diagnosis and management of increased ferritin A lecture by Dr Mark Crowther, from McMaster University, Canada, delivered at McMaster International Review Course in Internal Medicine (MIRCIM) in May 2019.
Mechanical VTE prophylaxis in critical care. Part 1 Dr Yaseen Arabi, chairman of the Intensive Care Department at King Abdulaziz Medical City and professor at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, explains the recently published results from a study on pneumatic compression devices in critical care.

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