Iron deficiency in sepsis patients based on reticulocyte hemoglobin and hepcidin concentration: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Introduction Iron tests are deranged in sepsis; therefore new biomarkers should be used for diagnosis of iron deficiency (ID)/ID anemia (IDA). Material and methods Diagnosis of ID/IDA was based on reticulocyte (RET) hemoglobin (Hb) equivalent (RET-He) and Hb concentration, with hepcidin (Hep) determined retrospectively. Results The prevalence of ID and IDA was 7% and 47%, respectively. The AUROCs for RETs number and Hep in prediction of ID/IDA were 0.69 and 0.62, respectively. Conclusions Approximately half of sepsis patients are iron-deficient. Number of RETs may be a predictor of ID/IDA when RET-He is not available. Hepcidin is a poor IDA predictor.

Keywords

• hepcidin
• intensive care unit
• iron deficiency anemia
• reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent
• sepsis