The mean levels of serum ferritin depend on several
factors, including age at presentation, age at beginning
regular PRBC transfusion, age at starting iron chelation
therapy, efficacy of the iron chelation drug and its compliance,
and the age group of the reported series of patients.
Our observed high ferritin levels among our thalassemic
patients are consistent with serum ferritin levels of
2729 ng/mL (6579 pmol/L) observed in 11–19-year-old
transfusion-dependent thalassemia major patients in Hong
Kong.2 However, low levels (2013 ng/mL/4525 pmol/L)
were found in patients younger than 11 years of age in this
series. Observation of nontransplanted
thalassemia major
patients in the national registry of France indicates that
better-managed patients may have lower serum ferritin levels
(1240 ng/mL).10