HeGRI: A Novel Index of Serum Hepcidin Suppression in Relation to the Degree of Renal Dysfunction among β-Thalassemia Major Patients

• Published in: Thalassemia reports Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 2 - 11
• Main Authors: Zaman, Burhan A., Rasool, Suzan O., Ibrahim, Nashwan M. R., Abdulah, Deldar M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01.03.2022
• Subjects: eGFR; hepcidin; iron overload; renal dysfunction; β-thalassemia major
• ISSN: 2039-4365; 2039-4365
• DOI: 10.3390/thalassrep12010002

Background: The progressive renal function inadequacy results in altered hepcidin metabolism due to a shifting of its renal elimination, which consequently affects enteric iron absorption and iron stores’ availability. This study aimed to investigate and correlate renal function, iron status, and hepcidin in patients with β-thalassemia major through a novel index. Methods: In this 1:1 case–control study, serum hepcidin, serum ferritin, iron study, hematological and renal function parameters were compared between 60 β-thalassemia major patients with iron overload and 61 healthy individuals (2–30 years old). Results: The concentrations of serum hepcidin (21.898 vs. 9.941 ng/mL; p < 0.001) and eGFR (179.71 vs. 132.95; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in β-thalassemia major patients compared to the controls. The serum hepcidin levels decreased with increasing levels of total iron-binding capacity (TIBC; β = −0.442; p = 0.024), transferrin saturation (β = −0.343; p = 0.023), serum creatinine (β = −0.625; p = 0.0030), and eGFR (β = −0.496; p = 0.011). The mean hepcidin/ferritin ratio was significantly lower in the β-thalassemia major cases (0.0069 vs. 0.3970; p < 0.001). The novel hepcidin/eGFR ratio index (HeGRI) was significantly higher in the patient group compared to controls (0.12 vs. 0.09; p = 0.031), respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that HeGRI could be a potential index of the appropriateness of serum hepcidin suppression associated with the degree of renal dysfunction among β-thalassemia major patients.