title: Pro-hepcidin concentration in serum of women in uncomplicated pregnancy, pregnancy complicated by premature rupture of membranes and in pregnancy induced hypertension.
abstract: Pro-hepcidin, mainly synthesized in hepatocytes is the pro-hormone of hepcidin which demonstrates antimicrobial activity and is the body's main regulator of iron homeostasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The estimation of serum pro-hepcidin concentrations in uncomplicated pregnancy and complicated by premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).
  
  
  METHODS
  The studies were performed in 24 women in pregnancy complicated by premature rupture of membranes, 31 women in pregnancy with induced hypertension and 35 healthy women in corresponding weeks of gestation (third trimester). Concentration of pro-hepcidin, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, haemoglobin and haematocrit were studied using commercially available kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of serum pro-hepcidin in studied pregnant women were similar and amounted respectively to 99.6 microg/L, 93.7 microg/L and 98.2 microg/L in PIH, PROM and in the uncomplicated pregnancy group. In the group of patients with PROM and PIH, concentration of haemoglobin was significantly lower than in healthy pregnant women, but remains in the physiological range. In the studied groups values of C-reactive protein and leucocytes count were normal. We did not observe any correlation between the concentration of serum pro-hepcidin and iron status measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In pregnancies complicated by premature rupture of membranes and pregnancy induced hypertension with normal values of haemoglobin and haematocrit serum pro-hepcidin concentrations are similar to those observed in healthy pregnant women with normal course of pregnancy.
authors: Screening Test Department, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw. lipidy.imid@imid.med.pl
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Laskowska-Klita
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Chełchowska
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Blumska-Janiak
authors: Jadwiga
authors: J
authors: Ambroszkiewicz
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Łycka
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Gajewska
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Leibschang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D044967:Serum
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D006454:Hemoglobins; D064451:Hepcidins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein