title: Hepcidin concentrations and iron homeostasis in preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasma iron is increased in preeclampsia (PE) when compared to healthy pregnant women. This is in contrast to inflammation characteristic for PE. The link between iron homeostasis and inflammation is hepcidin. Our goal was to describe hepcidin concentrations and its association with iron homeostasis in PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained peripheral blood samples from 30 preeclamptic [gestational age: 36.5 (24-40) weeks] and 37 healthy pregnant women [gestational age: 36 (28-39) weeks] to determine plasma hepcidin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations, complete blood cell counts and parameters of iron homeostasis [plasma iron, transferrin and ferritin levels and total iron binding capacity (TIBC)]. Hepcidin was measured using mass spectrophotometry. The Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma hepcidin, IL-6, iron and ferritin concentrations were increased (p<0.05 for all), whereas plasma transferrin, TIBC and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations were lower (p<0.05 for all) in PE compared to healthy pregnant women. No differences were seen in the other parameters investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma iron concentrations are increased despite high hepcidin concentrations in PE. This might indicate a resistance to the iron-decreasing action of hepcidin.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. toldigergely@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gergely
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toldi
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stenczer
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molvarec
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Takáts
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beko
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rigó
authors.forename: Barna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vásárhelyi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D064451:Hepcidins; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron