Serum Hepcidin as an Inflammatory Marker in Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Hepcidin is known to be the central regulator of iron homeostasis in the body. It is up-regulated by inflammation and downregulated by anemia. CKD is a state of chronic inflammation seen in kidney. Previous work has shown that serum hepcidin levels were increased in patients with CKD. This was surprising as these patients had a chronic inflammatory state and co-existent anemia.

Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study is to estimate the levels of hepcidin in CKD patients and to check the correlation of hepcidin to inflammation in chronic kidney disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, Central Laboratory, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai during January 2017 - June 2018 among 50 patients of chronic kidney disease in the age group of 18-60 years. The blood samples were collected using vacutainer system. Samples for serum hepcidin, ferritin and hsCRP were collected in red topped plain vacuum tube. The samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes. The samples were then processed, and values were obtained. The data were analysed using SPSS package.

Results: The mean values of s. Hepcidin, s. ferritin and hsCRP levels were found to be increased in the study population. The mean value of s. hepcidin was found to have strong positive correlation with the mean values of s. ferritin and hsCRP with r-value > 0.7.

Conclusion: Hepcidin levels are elevated in CKD and hepcidin is a predictor of inflammation since it correlated well with the inflammatory markers hsCRP and ferritin levels.