title: Correlates of hepcidin and NTBI according to HFE status in patients referred to a liver centre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Innately low hepcidin levels lead to iron overload in HFE-associated hereditary haemochromatosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study compared hepcidin and non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) levels in untreated iron-loaded and non-iron-loaded C282Y homozygotes to levels in C282Y/H63D compound heterozygotes and individuals with other HFE genotypes associated with less risk of iron overload.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As the genotypic risk for iron overload increased, transferrin saturation and serum NTBI levels increased while serum hepcidin levels decreased. Overweight and obese male C282Y homozygotes had significantly higher hepcidin levels than male C282Y homozygotes with a normal BMI. Pearson product-moment analysis showed that serum hepcidin levels significantly correlated with HFE status, serum ferritin, age, NTBI, transferrin saturation, gender and BMI. Subsequent multiple regression analysis showed that HFE status and serum ferritin were significant independent correlates of serum hepcidin levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, this study has shown that while serum ferritin and HFE status are the most important determinants of hepcidin levels, factors such age, gender, BMI, transferrin saturation and NTBI all interact closely in the matrix of homeostatic iron balance.
authors.affiliation: Liver Centre, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coughlan
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tjalsma
authors.forename: Dorine W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Swinkels
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Crowe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: C103673:HFE protein, human; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D064451:Hepcidins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron