title: Serum hepcidin in infants born after 32 to 37 wk of gestational age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preterm infants are at risk of iron deficiency (ID). Hepcidin has been suggested as a good additional indicator of ID in preterm infants, next to ferritin.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective observational study, we analyzed serum hepcidin in 111 infants born after 32+0 to 36+6 wk gestational age during the first 4 mo of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepcidin concentrations decreased during the first 4 mo of life, and concentrations were lower in infants with ID compared to those without ID. Infants who developed ID at the age of 4 mo had already significantly lower levels of hepcidin at 1.5 mo of age, while ferritin was already significantly lower at the age of 1 wk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepcidin concentrations of late preterm infants decrease during the first 4 mo of life. This decrease, which parallels a decrease of ferritin concentration, we interpret as a physiological response, aiming to increase iron availability. Hepcidin concentrations are lower in infants with ID compared with those without ID, with a notable change already observed at 1.5 mo of age. Hepcidin can be used as an early marker of ID, although an additive value of hepcidin over ferritin in the diagnosis of ID is not present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lieke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uijterschout
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domellöf
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Staffan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Micky
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbink
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Haaglanden, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lyanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rövekamp
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boersma
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lagerqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, LabWest, HAGA Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cisca
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hudig
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital - Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: van Goudoever
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brus
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D064451:Hepcidins