Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Induction of an Inflammatory Response in Primary Hepatocyte Cultures from Mice
Published on: March 10, 2017
Serum Hepcidin in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Paulina Krawiec1, Agnieszka Mroczkowska-Juchkiewicz, Elżbieta Pac-Kożuchowska
1Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Lublin, Lubin, Poland.
Insights
Serum hepcidin levels were significantly lower in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to healthy children. Hepcidin levels correlated with iron stores, not inflammation, suggesting iron regulation is key in pediatric IBD.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Hematology
Background:
- Hepcidin regulates iron homeostasis and innate immunity.
- The role of hepcidin in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess serum hepcidin concentration in children with IBD.
- To correlate hepcidin levels with iron status and inflammatory markers in pediatric IBD patients.
Main Methods:
- Serum hepcidin, iron status parameters, and inflammatory markers were measured in 75 IBD children (46 ulcerative colitis, 29 Crohn's disease) and 21 controls.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare hepcidin levels and correlations.
Main Results:
- Mean serum hepcidin was significantly decreased in IBD children (5.98 ng/mL) versus controls (10 ng/mL).
- Hepcidin levels were lower in IBD children with iron deficiency and anemia compared to controls.
- Hepcidin showed a positive correlation only with ferritin (R = 0.3), not inflammatory markers.
Conclusions:
- Serum hepcidin concentration is significantly reduced in pediatric IBD patients.
- Hepcidin regulation in this cohort appears primarily influenced by iron storage levels rather than inflammatory status.
Background:
Hepcidin is a major regulator of iron homeostasis and a mediator of innate immunity. To date, the role of hepcidin in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) children is not clearly established. We aimed to assess serum hepcidin concentration in IBD children and correlate hepcidin with iron status parameters and inflammatory markers.
Methods:
The study group included 46 pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis and 29 with Crohn's disease. In control group, there were 21 children with functional gastrointestinal disorders. The complete blood count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, iron, ferritin, transferrin, hepcidin, soluble transferrin receptor, transferrin saturation, and interleukin-6 were measured. The study was approved by the local bioethical committee (KE-0254/22/2013).
Results:
Mean serum hepcidin concentration was significantly decreased in IBD children (5.98 ng/mL) compared with controls (10 ng/mL) (P = 0.03). Hepcidin did not differ significantly between patients with Crohn's disease (6.9 ± 4.5 ng/mL) and ulcerative colitis (5.4 ± 5.3 ng/mL) (P = 0.07). Hepcidin was significantly decreased in IBD children with iron deficiency (4.9 ± 3.2 ng/mL) compared with healthy controls (10.5 ± 10 ng/mL) (P = 0.02). In anemic children with IBD, serum hepcidin (5.3 ± 4.4 ng/mL) was significantly reduced compared with healthy controls (10.5 ± 10 ng/mL) (P = 0.04), but comparable to nonanemic IBD children (6.6 ± 5.6 ng/mL) (P = 0.62). In IBD, children hepcidin was correlated solely with ferritin (P = 0.007; R = 0.3).
Conclusions:
In our study, serum hepcidin concentration was significantly decreased in IBD children compared with controls. Hepcidin correlated positively with ferritin, but not with any of inflammatory markers. It may suggest that in our cohort, hepcidin was regulated predominantly by iron storage level.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:26Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism