Table 1. Screening and Diagnostic Criteria for Iron Overload

Term/Test

Men

Women

Screening-positive for elevated iron measures

   Transferrin saturation, %42-44

>50

>45

   Serum ferritin level, µg/L44,45

>300

>200

Possible iron overload

   Repeat transferrin saturation, %

or

>50

>45

   Repeat serum ferritin, µg/L

or

>300

>200

   Initial increased transferrin saturation and serum ferritin level plus clinical examination

   
Provisional primary iron overload44

   Repeated transferrin saturation shows increased serum ferritin levels not due to liver disease, inflammation, or secondary causes of iron overload

   
Iron overload: documented44

   Meets all the provisional primary iron overload criteria and shown to have increased body iron stores by >1 of the following:

  • Hepatic iron concentration (biopsy): >90 µm/g, >5000 µg/g dry weight
  • Iron removed to reach iron depletion (phlebotomy): >4 g iron removed
  • Histology: suggestive of hemochromatosis and:
    • Hepatic iron index: >1.9 or
    • Hepatic iron staining: 3+, 4+
   

Return to Document