Correlation between levels of serum ferritin and lipid profile status.

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse the correlation between ferritin level in serum and lipid profile in patients presenting to a Tertiary Care Centre. Study Design: Cross Sectional Descriptive study. Setting: Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar. Period: 1^st January 2019 to 31^st July 2019. Material & Methods: About 60 patients presenting to the laboratory referred for serum lipid profile or serum ferritin were included in the study. Sampling was done by purposive non probability technique. Blood was taken from patients in gel tube. Serum ferritin levels and lipid profile were done in all cases. Lipid profile included serum cholesterol, triglyceride level, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoproteins. The levels were recorded in a proforma. The serum ferritin level was correlated with the lipid profile status in all patient and the results were drawn accordingly. Results: About 60 patients were analysed. The mean age was 20.8± 5.2 years (range: 2 years to 60 years). There were 39 (65%) males and 21(35%) females. Out of 60 cases, serum ferritin level was normal, increased and lower in 15(25%), 40(66.6%) and 5 (8.3%) cases respectively. The cases where serum ferritin was abnormally raised, the significant changes in lipid profile were raised cholesterol and raised triglyceride (in 62.5% and 82.5% cases respectively). Conclusion: There is an association between raised serum ferritin and raised serum cholesterol level and serum triglyceride levels. This supports the link between serum ferritin regulation and lipid metabolism in the body. As dyslipidemia is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Therefore, a raised ferritin level must alert the physician about lipid profile of the patient and should prompt the physician to think about preventive measures against cardiovascular events in order to decrease the morbidity and mortality in patients at risk.