Erythrocyte ferritin in normal subjects and patients with abnormal iron metabolism

Summary. Erythrocyte ferritin is about 10 times more reactive with antibody to heart ferritin than to spleen ferritin. The concentration of erythrocyte ferritin reflects the abnormal body iron status both in iron deficiency and in idiopathic haemochromatosis. Increased concentrations in β‐thalassaemia trait and primary sideroblastic anaemia may also reflect the intrinsic erythroid abnormality. Differences in the response of ‘heart‐type’ and ‘spleen‐type’ ferritin to changes of iron status suggest possible differences in metabolic function.