Can Iron Studies Be Trusted in Inflammation? Why You Need Ferritin + CRP Together
Diagnosing iron deficiency is usually straightforward—until inflammation enters the picture. In patients with chronic infections, autoimmune disease, cancer, or renal failure, interpreting iron studies becomes a clinical minefield. The most commonly ordered marker, serum ferritin, is not just a storage protein for iron. It’s also an acute-phase reactant, meaning its levels can rise sharply during inflammation, […]
Why You Should Not Skip CRP in Febrile or Infection Cases
When faced with a patient presenting with fever, clinicians are often challenged to quickly determine the underlying cause: Is it bacterial, viral, or an inflammatory process? While white blood cell (WBC) counts are a longstanding tool, their reliability is limited—they can fluctuate with stress, dehydration, or other non-infectious factors. C-reactive protein (CRP), however, offers a more […]