Serum hepcidin and prohepcidin concentrations in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUNDAnemia is an important complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recent data suggest that hepcidin is a major mediator of anemia with a central role in iron homeostasis and metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of hepcidin and its prohormone, prohepcidin, in patients with IBD in comparison with healthy controls. METHODSOne hundred patients with IBD [49 ulcerative colitis (UC), 51 Crohnʼs disease (CD)] and 102 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum hepcidin and prohepcidin levels were measured by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays kits. Their relationship with clinical and laboratory parameters of UC and CD was assessed. RESULTSMedian hepcidin levels were significantly higher in both patients with UC and patients with CD compared with healthy controls (P