Analysis of the WHO guidelines on use of serum ferritin concentrations to assess iron status from the positions of 5-P medicine

According to the World Health Organization statistics, iron deficiency is among 10 most dangerous risk factors of developing various diseases, disability, and mortality throughout the world. Therefore, a correct determination of iron status in clinical practice is of decisive importance for diagnosis and screening in order to work out preventive and therapeutic measures. The new WHO guidelines emphasize the significance of monitoring the levels of ferritin, and also of serum iron, haemoglobin, transferrin, transferrin saturation, and inflammatory index in order to correctly assess iron status. The most vulnerable groups (small infants and pregnant women) have been identified, which should be given special attention with regard to monitoring iron metabolism. Key words: anaemia, haemochromatosis, iron deficiency, ferritin