In pernicious anemia, ferritin levels are typically how?

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Multiple Choice

In pernicious anemia, ferritin levels are typically how?

Ferritin reflects the body's iron stores, not the rate of red blood cell production or the specific vitamin deficiency driving pernicious anemia. In pernicious anemia, the primary issue is vitamin B12 deficiency from lack of intrinsic factor, which disrupts DNA synthesis and causes macrocytic, megaloblastic marrow, but it does not deplete iron stores. Therefore ferritin levels typically stay normal. They’re not decreased as in iron deficiency, and they aren’t inherently elevated because of B12 deficiency alone (unless another inflammatory condition is present). So ferritin is not affected in the usual course of pernicious anemia.

Ferritin reflects the body's iron stores, not the rate of red blood cell production or the specific vitamin deficiency driving pernicious anemia. In pernicious anemia, the primary issue is vitamin B12 deficiency from lack of intrinsic factor, which disrupts DNA synthesis and causes macrocytic, megaloblastic marrow, but it does not deplete iron stores. Therefore ferritin levels typically stay normal. They’re not decreased as in iron deficiency, and they aren’t inherently elevated because of B12 deficiency alone (unless another inflammatory condition is present). So ferritin is not affected in the usual course of pernicious anemia.

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