title: Hepcidin-25 negatively predicts left ventricular mass index in chronic kidney disease patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the correlation between the serum hepcidin-25 level and left ventricular mass index.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a cross-sectional study conducted between March 2009 and April 2010. Demographic and biochemical data, including the serum hepcidin-25 level, were collected for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed to determine the left ventricle mass (LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), interventricular septum thickness (IVSd), left ventricle posterior wall thickness (LVPW), right ventricular dimension (RVD), left atrium (LA) and ejection fraction (EF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 146 patients with stage 1 to 5 CKD were enrolled. Serum hepcidin-25 levels were 16.51 ± 5.2, 17.59 ± 5.32, 17.38 ± 6.47, 19.98 ± 4.98 and 22.03 ± 4.8 ng/mL for stage 1 to 5 CKD patients, respectively. Hepcidin-25 level was independently predicted by the serum ferritin level (β = 0.6, P = 0.002) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (β = -0.48, P = 0.04). There were negative correlations between the serum hepcidin level and the LVM and LVMI (P = 0.04 and P = 0.005, respectively). Systolic blood pressure (BP) was positively correlated with the LVMI (P = 0.005). In the multivariate analysis, a decreased serum hepcidin-25 level was independently associated with a higher LVMI (β = -0.28, 95%CI: -0.48 - -0.02, P = 0.006) after adjusting for body mass index, age and systolic BP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A lower serum hepcidin level is associated with a higher LVMI in CKD patients. Low hepcidin levels may be independently correlated with unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes in this population.
authors.affiliation: Yao-Peng Hsieh, Chia-Chu Chang, Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City 500, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yao-Peng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Ching-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chia-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hung-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ching-Yuang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Chu
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Ferritin; Hepcidin-25; Left ventricular mass; Left ventricular mass index