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Serum hepcidin in infants born after 32 to 37 wk of gestational age

Lieke Uijterschout1, Magnus Domellöf2, Staffan K Berglund2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Pediatric Research
|December 18, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Hepcidin levels decrease in late preterm infants during the first four months of life. Lower hepcidin indicates iron deficiency (ID) in infants, serving as an early diagnostic marker.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Hematology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Preterm infants face a high risk of iron deficiency (ID).
  • Hepcidin is a potential biomarker for ID in preterm infants, complementing ferritin levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate serum hepcidin concentrations in late preterm infants.
  • To evaluate hepcidin as an early indicator of iron deficiency in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational study involving 111 late preterm infants (32+0 to 36+6 weeks gestational age).
  • Serum hepcidin levels were analyzed during the first four months of life.
  • Comparison of hepcidin concentrations between infants with and without ID.

Main Results:

  • Hepcidin concentrations naturally decreased over the first four months of life.
  • Infants with ID exhibited significantly lower hepcidin levels compared to those without ID.
  • Early detection of ID was possible with hepcidin at 1.5 months, while ferritin changes were noted at 1 week.

Conclusions:

  • The decrease in hepcidin and ferritin concentrations is a physiological response to increase iron availability in late preterm infants.
  • Hepcidin is a valuable early marker for identifying iron deficiency in this cohort.
  • While hepcidin is a useful early indicator, it does not offer additional diagnostic value beyond ferritin for ID.
Abstract

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