Internal Medicine
Online ISSN : 1349-7235
Print ISSN : 0918-2918
ISSN-L : 0918-2918
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Circulating Hepcidin in the Crossroads of Anemia and Inflammation Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Mehmet Derya DemiragSeminur HaznedarogluBanu SancakCeyla KoncaOzlem GulbaharM. Akif OzturkBerna Goker
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JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2009 Volume 48 Issue 6 Pages 421-426

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the role of circulating hepcidin, which is a homeostatic regulator of iron metabolism and a mediator of inflammation, in anemia associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods Forty patients with rheumatoid arthritis (19 with anemia and 21 without anemia), 12 patients with iron deficiency anemia and 14 healthy adults were studied. Serum hepcidin levels were analyzed with hepcidin prohormone solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results The mean serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with anemia compared to healthy adults and those with iron deficiency anemia. The active rheumatoid arthritis group had significantly higher mean serum hepcidin levels than the inactive rheumatoid arthritis group. In the rheumatoid arthritis group, serum hepcidin levels were positively correlated with disease activity, but inversely correlated with hemoglobin levels. The serum hepcidin level was found to be a significant predictor for hemoglobin level.
Conclusion Serum hepcidin levels are closely associated with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients and might play a role in the pathobiology of chronic disease anemia associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

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© 2009 by The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
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