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Hepcidin levels in children with chronic liver disease

Murat Cakir1, Erol Erduran, Elif Sag Turkmen

  • 1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.

Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology : Official Journal of the Saudi Gastroenterology Association
|October 14, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Serum hepcidin levels in children with chronic liver disease (CLD) reflect liver function and antioxidant status. Severe liver fibrosis is linked to a lower hepcidin-to-ferritin ratio in pediatric CLD patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hepatology
  • Biochemistry
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Chronic liver disease (CLD) in children presents complex challenges in assessing disease severity and progression.
  • Hepcidin, a key regulator of iron metabolism, and its role in pediatric CLD require further elucidation.
  • Understanding the interplay between hepcidin, liver function, and fibrosis is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate serum hepcidin levels in children diagnosed with chronic liver disease (CLD).
  • To analyze the relationship between serum hepcidin and various clinical markers, including cytokines, liver function tests, hepatic iron content, and liver fibrosis.
  • To explore the diagnostic and prognostic significance of hepcidin in pediatric CLD.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 34 children with CLD and 15 healthy controls were enrolled.
  • Serum levels of hepcidin, ferritin, iron, IL-6, TGF-β, TOS, and TAS were measured.
  • Liver iron content (LIC) was assessed via liver biopsy, alongside evaluation of liver fibrosis staging.

Main Results:

  • Children with CLD exhibited significantly higher serum ferritin levels compared to controls.
  • No significant difference in overall hepcidin levels was observed between CLD patients and controls.
  • Hepcidin positively correlated with ferritin, PELD score, and TAS, but negatively with albumin.
  • Severe fibrosis was associated with lower transferrin saturation and a reduced hepcidin:ferritin ratio.

Conclusions:

  • Serum hepcidin levels in pediatric CLD patients are indicative of liver function and antioxidant status.
  • A low hepcidin-to-ferritin ratio is a significant indicator of severe liver fibrosis in children with CLD.
  • These findings highlight the potential utility of hepcidin and related markers in managing pediatric liver disease.
Abstract

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