title: Hepcidin concentrations in serum and urine correlate with iron homeostasis in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether hepcidin concentrations in serum (Hep((S))) and urine (Hep((U))) correlate with iron metabolism, erythropoiesis, and inflammation in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one preterm infants (23-32 weeks gestational age) were included. The concentration of the mature, 25 amino-acid form of hepcidin was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum, urine, blood counts, reticulocytes, and iron measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median (IQR) Hep((S)) was 52.4 (27.9-91.9) ng/mL. The highest values were measured in patients with systemic inflammation. Hep((S)) and Hep((U)) correlated strongly (P = .0007). Hep((S)) and Hep((U)) also correlated positively with ferritin (P = .005 and P = .0002) and with reticulocyte hemoglobin content (P = .015 and P = .015). Hep((S)) and Hep((U)) correlated negatively with soluble transferrin receptor/ferritin-ratio (P = .005 and P = .003). Infants with lower hemoglobin concentrations and higher reticulocyte counts had lower Hep((S)) (P = .0016 and P = .0089).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In sick preterm infants, iron status, erythropoiesis, anemia, and inflammation correlated with the mature 25 amino-acid form of hepcidin. Further evaluation of Hep((U)) for non-invasive monitoring of iron status in preterm infants appears justified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University of Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Christian F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Poets
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westerman
authors.forename: Axel R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Franz
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D064451:Hepcidins; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins; D007501:Iron