The Relationship Between Iron Deficiency in Patients with Helicobacter Pylori-Infected Nodular Gastritis and the Serum Prohepcidin Level

Background and aims Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is recognized as a causative agent for unexplained iron‐deficiency anemia (IDA). We evaluated many background factors influencing an iron‐deficiency state in adult patients with various H. pylori‐infected upper gastrointestinal tract diseases. Method Study 1: H. pylori‐infected 121 patients (nodular gastritis (NG) (n = 19), duodenal ulcer (DU) (n = 30), or gastric ulcer (GU) (n = 47), or gastric hyperplastic polyp (GHP) (n = 25)) were enrolled. The RBC count and hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, pepsinogen (PG) I, PG II, gastrin, and anti‐H. pylori antibody (Ab) levels in the serum were measured. Study 2: H. pylori‐infected 105 patients (NG, n = 19; DU, n = 43; GU, n = 32; GHP, n = 11) and non‐H. pylori‐infected individuals (n = 35) were examined for the levels of prohepcidin, ferritin, and iron in the serum. In addition, we measured the data before and after the H. pylori eradication. Results In the patients with GHP and NG, hypoferritinemia was observed in comparison with the GU and DU patients. In the GHP patients, low levels of PG I, a decreased PG I/II ratio, and hypergastrinemia were observed. The levels of serum prohepcidin in the patients with H. pylori‐associated disease were higher than those in the uninfected adults. In the patients with NG, the serum prohepcidin levels were higher than those in the other H. pylori‐infected patient groups and decreased after the eradication. Conclusion H. pylori‐related iron‐deficiency state might be associated with several factors, such as hypochlorhydria and hepcidin, in patients with GHP or NG.