Serum pro-hepcidin levels in term and preterm newborns with sepsis

Background: An iron regulatory peptide hormone, hepcidin, is also part of the innate immune system and is strongly induced during infections and inflammation. The aim of the present study was to determine serum levels of the 60 aa pro‐hormone form of hepcidin (pro‐hepcidin) in full‐term and preterm newborns with sepsis and to determine the possible relationships between pro‐hepcidin levels and serum iron and complete blood count parameters. Methods: Fifteen preterm newborns with sepsis, 17 healthy preterm, six full‐term newborns with sepsis and 16 healthy full‐term newborns were included the study. Blood samples were collected from patients with sepsis at the time of clinical diagnosis. Each blood sample was analyzed for complete blood count, serum iron and ferritin concentrations, iron‐binding capacity, and pro‐hepcidin level. Results: The mean serum pro‐hepcidin level (mean ± SD) in preterm neonates with sepsis and in healthy preterm newborns was 565.4 ± 519.5 ng/mL and 279.8 ± 227.6 ng/mL, respectively (P