Could hepcidin be a new biomarker in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)?
Özet
Hepcidin is a biomarker produced by hepatocytes in chronic disease anemia
and is known to increase during chronic inflammation. This study compares the hepcidin levels in
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and controls, evaluating its relationship with anemia
and systemic inflammation in IPF patients. Methods: This study included 82 IPF patients and
31 controls. Hepcidin levels were compared between the two groups. In the IPF group, the hepcidin
and anemia parameters were compared between anemic and non-anemic patients. The significance
between the hepcidin and systemic inflammation parameters such as Erythrocyte Sedimentation
Rate, CRP (C-reactive protein) levels, ferritin levels, and the Systemic Immune–Inflammation Index
(SII) was investigated. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and ferritin
levels were measured using automated analyzers. Hepcidin and erythropoietin (EPO) levels were
determined using ELISA kits. Results: A significant difference in hepcidin levels was found between
the IPF and control groups (37.13 ± 14.92 vs. 25.77 ± 11.25, p < 0.001). No significant difference in
hepcidin levels was found between anemic and non-anemic IPF patients (38.25 ± 16.2 vs. 36.7 ± 14.6,
p = 0.719). No significant correlation was found between hepcidin levels and anemia parameters
(serum iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, serum transferrin, transferrin saturation, total iron-binding capacity,
hemoglobin, folate, and erythropoietin) in IPF patients. Despite significant differences in the systemic
inflammation parameters (ferritin and CRP) between patients and controls, no significant correlation
was found between their hepcidin and systemic inflammation parameters. Conclusions: Our study
demonstrates that the hepcidin levels in IPF patients are elevated independently of anemia and
systemic inflammation. We propose that hepcidin could be a potential biomarker to be investigated
in IPF patients.
