Correlation of Serum Ferritin Level with Severity of Neurological Disability in Acute Ischemic Stroke – A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Stroke continues to be a major cause of death and disability worldwide, with ischemic stroke forming most of the cases. Early identification of reliable biomarkers can help in predicting severity and improving outcomes. Serum ferritin, an indicator of iron storage and inflammation, has been suggested as a possible marker of oxidative stress in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The study aimed to assess the correlation between serum ferritin levels and neurological severity in AIS patients. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of General Medicine at a tertiary care hospital from May 2024 to December 2025. Sixty-six adult patients with neuroimaging-confirmed AIS were included. Serum ferritin levels were measured within 24 h of admission by immunoturbidimetric method. Neurological severity was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at admission and discharge. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Pearson’s correlation with P < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: The mean age was 59 ± 12 years, and males formed the majority (75.8%). Hypertension and diabetes were each seen in 65.15% of patients. Mean ferritin levels increased with stroke severity – 181.8 ± 60.7 ng/mL in mild, 245.9 ± 61.1 ng/mL in moderate, and 346.7 ± 63.3 ng/mL in severe stroke ( P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Serum ferritin showed a strong positive correlation with stroke severity and poorer outcome. It may serve as a simple and affordable biomarker for early risk assessment, especially in resource-limited settings.