A high ferritin of up to 550 represents the possibility that the patient may have iron overload, tumors, inflammation, and other disease possibilities. The normal reference range for ferritin is 15 to 200 μg/L for men; 12 to 150 μg/L for women. When ferritin is 550, it suggests elevated ferritin, which is the storage form of iron in the body. If a patient with anemia is repeatedly transfused with red blood cells, this can lead to iron overload, which can lead to elevated ferritin. Elevated ferritin due to iron overload requires iron removal therapy when it is greater than 1000 or more. In addition elevated ferritin can be secondary to tumors, inflammation and other diseases. If the elevated ferritin is due to a tumor or inflammatory disease, the primary disease needs to be treated aggressively, and when the primary disease is controlled, the elevated ferritin will drop to normal.