Circulating hepcidin in the crossroads of anemia and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of circulating hepcidin, which is a homeostatic regulator of iron metabolism and a mediator of inflammation, in anemia associated with rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
Forty patients with rheumatoid arthritis (19 with anemia and 21 without anemia), 12 patients with iron deficiency anemia and 14 healthy adults were studied. Serum hepcidin levels were analyzed with hepcidin prohormone solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The mean serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with anemia compared to healthy adults and those with iron deficiency anemia. The active rheumatoid arthritis group had significantly higher mean serum hepcidin levels than the inactive rheumatoid arthritis group. In the rheumatoid arthritis group, serum hepcidin levels were positively correlated with disease activity, but inversely correlated with hemoglobin levels. The serum hepcidin level was found to be a significant predictor for hemoglobin level.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum hepcidin levels are closely associated with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients and might play a role in the pathobiology of chronic disease anemia associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Demirag
Mehmet Derya
MD
Section of Rheumatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. mehmetderyademirag@yahoo.com
Haznedaroglu
Seminur
S
Sancak
Banu
B
Konca
Ceyla
C
Gulbahar
Ozlem
O
Ozturk
M Akif
MA
Goker
Berna
B
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins