Association between hepcidin, haemoglobin level and iron status in stage 4 chronic kidney disease patients with anaemia

Objectives: To explore the probable association of serum hepcidin and haemoglobin levels with iron and inflammation statuses in patients of chronic kidney disease stage 4 with anaemia. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from March 2011 to October 2012, and comprised patients of chronic kidney disease stage 4with anaemia. Serumbiochemical factors as well as hepcidin, ferritin, interleukin 6, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and iron levels were measured using standard methods. Statistical correlations were established using regression analysis and Pearson s correlation coefficient. Results: There were 40 patients among whom 15(37.5%) were males and 25(62.5%) were females with an overall mean age of 55.68±14.4 years. There was a significant inverse relationship between hepcidin and haemoglobin levels (p 0.05). There were significant correlations between hepcidin with iron status, nutritional and inflammatory markers such as ferritin, Total iron binding capacity, albumin and interleukin 6 (p 0.05 each). Conclusion: Hepcidin had negative correlation with haemoglobin level in stage 4 chronic kidney disease patients with adequate iron stores, which could be effective in the development of anaemia in such patients.