Diagnostic potential of hepcidin testing in pediatrics

Abstract

This study sets up reference values for pediatric population and shows that in normal controls serum hepcidin react differently to puberty in females vs. males. In addition, it suggests that serum hepcidin may discriminate microcytic inflammatory anemia of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis from iron deficiency anemia. Overall these findings may represent a helpful tool for future studies tailored to understand the role of hepcidin in management of iron disorders in children.

Cord Blood Hepcidin: Cross-Sectional Correlates and Associations with Anemia, Malaria, and Mortality in a Tanzanian Birth Cohort Study

“…If the usual hepcidin level in infancy could serve as a prognostic indicator of a child's future iron regulation, then hepcidin testing could facilitate the targeted distribution of iron to those children who are most likely to absorb and use it. [45][46][47] On the other hand, if the relation between low hepcidin and susceptibility to mortality is a true association and, hypothetically, mediated by iron availability (i.e., if low cord hepcidin ! elevated iron absorption !…”

Serum hepcidin measured by immunochemical and mass-spectrometric methods and their correlation with iron status indicators in healthy children aged 0.5–3 y

“…However, the diagnostic use of hepcidin is limited by the absence of standardization in general, age-specific reference ranges of hepcidin and knowledge on the association between hepcidin and other iron status indicators in children in particular (10,13,14). The aim of this study was to determine reference ranges of serum hepcidin in healthy children aged 0.5-3 y using Weak Cation eXchange Time of Flight mass-spectometry (MS) and an commercial immunochemical (IC) assay, and to investigate its association with other indicators of iron status and inflammation.…”

Serum Concentration of Hepcidin as an Indicator of Iron Reserves in Children

“…Positive regulators of hepcidin synthesis are increased iron values, infection and/or inflammation, while negative regulators of hepcidin synthesis are iron deficiency, anemia, hypoxia and erythropoiesis (11,19,30,31).…”