Iron metobolism and the hepcidin in childhood

Objective: In this study; we evaluated the values of haemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpusculer volume, iron binding capacity, ferritin, transferrin saturation index and hepcidin in children with or without iron deficiency. We aimed to find any difference or relationship between the study and control groups for hepcidin levels.Materail and Methods: 94 children were included in this sdtudy aged between 1-16 with iron deficiency and had anemia. The determinations were done on complete blood cell count with cohorent serum iron, iron binding capacity and ferritin levels with iron deficiency, transferrin saturation of < 16 % and normal C-reactive protein (CRP); 91 healthy children of aged 1-16 with normal haemoglobin electrophoresis those who referred to Çukurova Üniversity Medicine Faculty Pediatric Department Outpatient Clinic between december 2008- semptember 2009. The average age of patient group and control group was 6.1±3.8 and 7.0±3.9 respectively.Blood samples were taken to evaulate complete blood count; serum iron, iron binding capacity, CRP and hepcidin parameters in both two groups. Feeding and breast milk history questionered completely. The complaints at the initial admission were recorded. The datas obtained were evaluated statistically.Results: The major initial complaints of children aged 1-3, 3,1-7, 7,1-12, 12,1-16 were growth reterdation, failure of weight gain; growth reterdation, appetite, failure of weight gain; failure of weight gain, growth reterdation; failure of weight gain, growth reterdation respectively.The serum hepcidine level was 219.51±70.72 ng/mL for control group and 141.44±71.53 ng/mL for patient group by the evaluation of the results. The statisticall difference was significant between two groups values (p<0.05 ).No corralation established between hepcidine and serum hemoglobin, iron and ferritin levels in both patient and control groups. No significant differences between two groups of breast-feed babies. Feeding deficieny was found in 70 children of 94 (70.5%) in patients group.Conclusion: In conclusion; hepcidin may play the critical role on diagnose and treatment of iron metobolism diseases in the future.Key Words: Childhood, Iron deficieny anemia, Hepcidin.