title: Hepcidin as a new biomarker for detecting autologous blood transfusion.
abstract: Autologous blood transfusion (ABT) is an efficient way to increase sport performance. It is also the most challenging doping method to detect. At present, individual follow-up of haematological variables via the athlete biological passport (ABP) is used to detect it. Quantification of a novel hepatic peptide called hepcidin may be a new alternative to detect ABT. In this prospective clinical trial, healthy subjects received a saline injection for the control phase, after which they donated blood that was stored and then transfused 36 days later. The impact of ABT on hepcidin as well as haematological parameters, iron metabolism, and inflammation markers was investigated. Blood transfusion had a particularly marked effect on hepcidin concentrations compared to the other biomarkers, which included haematological variables. Hepcidin concentrations increased significantly: 12 hr and 1 day after blood reinfusion, these concentrations rose by seven- and fourfold, respectively. No significant change was observed in the control phase. Hepcidin quantification is a cost-effective strategy that could be used in an "ironomics" strategy to improve the detection of ABT.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leuenberger
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barras
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicoli
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baume
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Interrégionale CRS, site d'Epalinges, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lion
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Interrégionale CRS, site d'Epalinges, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barelli
authors.affiliation: Transfusion Interrégionale CRS, site d'Epalinges, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Daniel
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tissot
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses, University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne and Geneva, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martial
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saugy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004300:Doping in Sports; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010949:Plasma; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044967:Serum; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D064451:Hepcidins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron