Causes of hyperferritinemia: what has changed with the pandemic?

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to analyze patients with ferritin levels of = 1000 ng/mL based on diagnoses and the wards they received both before the COVID pandemic and during the pandemic periods. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the patients who applied to a tertiary hospital and had ferritin onset of the pandemic. The patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and ferritin levels were obtained from the hospital's medical records. Results: There were 2022 patients, 635 (31.4%) female and 1387 (68.6%) male, with a median age of 62 (49-71) years. 554 patients (27.4%) before the pandemic, and 1468 patients (72.6%) during the pandemic had ferritin levels of = 1000 ng/mL. Hyperferritinemia was detected more frequently in males during the pandemic (p<0.001). Before the pandemic, the most prevalent cause of hyperferritinemia was hematologic malignancies, while COVID-19 was the most common cause of hyperferritinemia during the pandemic. Hyperferritinemia was commonly detected in the hematology department before the pandemic, while it was frequently performed in COVID-19 clinics and intensive care units after the onset of the pandemic. Conclusion: In the current study, the most prevalent cause of hyperferritinemia was hematological malignancies before the pandemic, and COVID-19 infection during the pandemic. Therefore, it is important to consider the most common conditions that match the patient's clinical condition when detecting extremely high ferritin values. Nevertheless, many other important clinical situations should also be kept in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]