Evaluate ferritin levels in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and its
relation to diabetic microvascular complications, and metabolic control. Subjects and methods: This
study included 180 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with a mean age
of 14.9 ± 3.1 years and 180 apparently normal children matched for age and sex (control group). All
children were evaluated with full history taking, thorough clinical examination, laboratory assessment
of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and evaluation of the presence of
microvascular complications. Serum ferritin levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence
immunoassay. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of
microvascular complications. Results: Serum ferritin levels were significantly higher in patients
with T1DM in both groups compared with healthy controls (p < 0.001). Additionally, patients with
microvascular complications had higher serum ferritin concentrations than those without microvascular
complications (p < 0.001). Patients with microalbuminuria showed higher ferritin levels compared with
patients without microalbuminuria (p < 0.05). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that levels of HbA1c
and urinary albumin excretion were independently related to ferritin levels (p < 0.001 for both). On
receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, a ferritin cutoff value of 163.6 ng/mL differentiated
patients with microvascular complications from those without microvascular complications with a
sensitivity of 92.1% and specificity of 93.4%. Conclusion: Serum ferritin levels are elevated in T1DM,
particularly in patients with microvascular complications.