Lieke Uijterschout1, Magnus Domellöf2, Staffan K Berglund2, Micky Abbink3, Paul Vos4, Lyanne Rövekamp5, Bart Boersma3, Carina Lagerqvist2, Cisca Hudig6, Johannes B van Goudoever5,7, Frank Brus5. 1. Department of Pediatrics, OLVG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Haaglanden, The Hague, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 6. Department of Clinical Chemistry, LabWest, HAGA Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands. 7. Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital - Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Preterm infants are at risk of iron deficiency (ID). Hepcidin has been suggested as a good additional indicator of ID in preterm infants, next to ferritin. METHODS: In a prospective observational study, we analyzed serum hepcidin in 111 infants born after 32+0 to 36+6 wk gestational age during the first 4 mo of life. RESULTS: Hepcidin concentrations decreased during the first 4 mo of life, and concentrations were lower in infants with ID compared to those without ID. Infants who developed ID at the age of 4 mo had already significantly lower levels of hepcidin at 1.5 mo of age, while ferritin was already significantly lower at the age of 1 wk. CONCLUSION: Hepcidin concentrations of late preterm infants decrease during the first 4 mo of life. This decrease, which parallels a decrease of ferritin concentration, we interpret as a physiological response, aiming to increase iron availability. Hepcidin concentrations are lower in infants with ID compared with those without ID, with a notable change already observed at 1.5 mo of age. Hepcidin can be used as an early marker of ID, although an additive value of hepcidin over ferritin in the diagnosis of ID is not present.
BACKGROUND: Preterm infants are at risk of iron deficiency (ID). Hepcidin has been suggested as a good additional indicator of ID in preterm infants, next to ferritin. METHODS: In a prospective observational study, we analyzed serum hepcidin in 111 infants born after 32+0 to 36+6 wk gestational age during the first 4 mo of life. RESULTS:Hepcidin concentrations decreased during the first 4 mo of life, and concentrations were lower in infants with ID compared to those without ID. Infants who developed ID at the age of 4 mo had already significantly lower levels of hepcidin at 1.5 mo of age, while ferritin was already significantly lower at the age of 1 wk. CONCLUSION:Hepcidin concentrations of late preterm infants decrease during the first 4 mo of life. This decrease, which parallels a decrease of ferritin concentration, we interpret as a physiological response, aiming to increase iron availability. Hepcidin concentrations are lower in infants with ID compared with those without ID, with a notable change already observed at 1.5 mo of age. Hepcidin can be used as an early marker of ID, although an additive value of hepcidin over ferritin in the diagnosis of ID is not present.
Authors: Jason S Troutt; Mats Rudling; Lena Persson; Lars Ståhle; Bo Angelin; Anthony M Butterfield; Andrew E Schade; Guoqing Cao; Robert J Konrad Journal: Clin Chem Date: 2012-06-07 Impact factor: 8.327
Authors: Tanja Jaeggi; Diego Moretti; Jane Kvalsvig; Penny A Holding; Harold Tjalsma; Guus A M Kortman; Irma Joosten; Alice Mwangi; Michael B Zimmermann Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-02-27 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: C G de Waal; L Uijterschout; M Abbink; B Boersma; P Vos; W W Rövekamp; F Hudig; M D Akkermans; J B van Goudoever; F Brus Journal: J Perinatol Date: 2017-02-09 Impact factor: 2.521