What are the causes of elevated ferritin?

A high ferritin level can indicate iron overload. Iron overload is most commonly associated with hemochromatosis, a condition where your body absorbs more iron that it needs. Elevated ferritin levels can also be due to something other than iron overload. Ferritin is an important marker of inflammation in the body, so ferritin levels can be elevated anytime a person has an inflammatory condition, such as an underlying infection. Other conditions that cause elevated ferritin include alcohol use disorder, cancer, obesity, anemia not caused by iron deficiency, hyperthyroidism, and liver disease. Ferritin testing is widely considered the most accurate method for determining whether a person has iron deficiency unless a person has an inflammatory condition such as an autoimmune disease, a cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. This is because inflammation in the body affects the result of a ferritin test.