Iraqi Journal of Hematology (Jan 2016)
Evaluation of the changes in iron homeostasis and hepcidin concentration in preeclamptic patients
Abstract
Background: Plasma iron is increased in preeclampsia (PE) in comparison to normal pregnant women. The relation between iron homeostasis and inflammation is hepcidin. Hepcidin is an acute phase reactant protein which has major role in iron hemostasis. Objectives: To evaluate serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), serum ferritin and serum hepcidin levels in preeclamptic pregnant women in relation to non preeclamptic pregnant women, who were not on any iron supplement regimen. Materials and Methods: This case control study was conducted on twenty pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy suffering from preeclampsia that had not received iron supplement or had blood transfusion within last three months, those patients attended the obstetrics and gynecology department at (AL-Imamin AL-Kadhmin medical city) between May to August 2013. Along with those patient twenty non preeclamptic pregnant women who were age and gestational age matched were included as control group. Moreover any subject presented with active infection, chronic diseases, chronic blood loss or twin pregnancy was excluded. A total of 5 ml of venous blood sample was obtained from each patient and control and tested for measurement of Hb, PCV, and MCHC by automated device whereas, serum of iron and TIBC, ferritin and hepcidin were measured by ELISA technique. Results: The mean level of Hb, PCV, MCHC, serum iron, serum ferritin and serum hepcidin in preeclamptic patients were higher than those of control group (P value of < 0.05).There was a non- significant correlation between serum iron and hepcidin in preeclamptic patients (r=0.234, P= 0.32) whereas there was a significant strongly positive correlation between serum iron and hepcidin in the control group (r=0.839, P = 0.003). Conclusions: In preeclamptic patients serum iron concentration is increased in spite of high hepcidin concentration which might indicate a resistance to the iron-decreasing action of hepcidin.
