Is hepcidin a link between anemia, inflammation and liver function in hemodialyzed patients?
GROUND: Hepcidin synthesis in hepatocytes is modulated in response to anemia, hypoxia or inflammation. A cross-sectional study was performed to assess hepcidin correlations with markers of iron status, erythropoietin therapy and markers of inflammation in hemodialyzed patients and in the healthy volunteers. METHODS: Iron status, complete blood count, creatinine, albumin, lipids were assessed using standard laboratory methods. Hepcidin and high-sensitivity CRP were measured using commercially available kits. RESULTS: Serum iron, TIBC, TSAT, erythrocyte count, Hb, Ht, platelet count, albumin, and cholesterol were lower, whereas ferritin and hepcidin were higher in hemodialyzed patients over controls. Hepcidin correlated positively with triglycerides, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, lymphocyte count, ferritin and erythropoietin dose and negatively with erythrocyte count, Hb, and Ht in hemodialyzed patients. In multiple regression analysis, triglycerides (beta value was 0.28, p = 0.02
