EDU: Stills Disease explained, Elevated Ferritan Levels

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Basically, Ferritan is the Iron Storage Protein found in the intestines, liver

and spleen of the body and it releases iron in a controled fashion. Iron is

necessary for oxygen transport in the blood. Iron is the central atom of the

heme group, a metal complex that binds molecular oxygen (O2) in the lungs and

carries it to all of the other cells in the body (e.g., the muscles) that need

oxygen to perform their activities. Without iron in the heme group, there would

be no site for the oxygen to bind, and thus no oxygen would be delivered to the

cells (which would result in the cells dying). In addition to hemoglobin, other

important proteins in the body that contain heme groups (and therefore contain

iron) include myoglobin, which takes oxygen from hemoglobin and allows the

oxygen to diffuse throughout the muscle cells, and the cytochromes, which supply

the body with its energy currency. Other proteins, such as those needed for DNA

synthesis and cell division, also rely on iron.

Furthermore, iron is used to help produce the connective tissues in our body,

some of the neurotransmitters in our brain, and to maintain the immune system.

Hence, iron is necessary for allowing the cells that need oxygen to obtain O2,

for supplying the body with a reliable source of energy, and for maintaining

several other important structures and systems in the body.

Here are some links to great information on Stills Disease, what it is and

elevated serum ferritin levels as a result of AOSD. GREAT INFORMATION.

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/41/2/216 This link

follows a woman diagnosed with AOSD (Stills Disease) in her 4th month of

pregnancy with her second child. Pretty good explaination on Stills.

Fisher syndrome has been linked to AOSD as verified from this link. This

immunological disorder of the nervous system has not been described in

association with AOSD before.

http://www.hopkins-arthritis.som.jhmi.edu/case/case11/11_case.html Another

case of AOSD followed by 's Hopkins. Case history, lab results, etc. Jan

2002 showed high ferritan levels. Diagnosis explained.

http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com:16080/diseases/stills_disease.htm Stills

Disease comprehensive. Takes every aspect of Stills and studies it. Discusses

JRA and Ferritin levels. OUTLINE: Epidemiology, Disease Associations,

Pathogenesis, Laboratory / Radiologic / Other Diagnostic Testing, Gross

Appearance and Clinical Variants, Histopathological Features and Variants,

Special Stains / Immunohistochemistry / Electron Microscopy, Differential

Diagnosis, Prognosis, Treatement, autologous stem cell transplantation, Dietary

Calcium study, Enbrel, Arava, MTX, etc.

Links to information about ferritin levels and Stills Disease found on our

website.

stillswebsite.tripod.com/aosd.htm ADULT-ONSET STILLS DISEASE ... SAA),

thrombocytosis and serum ferritin. Over ... elevated ferritin and the high

spiking fevers of Still's disease (Pelkonen 1986).

(Beautiful Southern Oregon, USA)

We may not be able to change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust our

sails.

May you have enough happiness to make you kind, enough trials to make you

strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

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