IRON

Overview

The Iron test measures the level of circulating iron in the blood, essential for diagnosing iron-related disorders. Excessive iron can accumulate in tissues, leading to conditions like hemosiderosis, with the liver often affected first, particularly in Kupffer cells. Persistent iron overload, such as in hemochromatosis, causes buildup in hepatocytes and biliary cells, which may result from anemia, chronic alcohol use, or excessive iron intake.