Z Gastroenterol 2006; 44 - A2_14
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-931681

Pro-hepcidin levels are decreased in advanced hepatitis C liver disease

T Göbel 1, A Erhardt 1, K Hauck 1, A Janetzko 2, A Donner 3, T Heintges 1, D Häussinger 1
  • 1Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Infektiologie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf
  • 2DRG Instruments GmbH, Marburg
  • 3Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Aachen

AIM: Iron homoestasis is impaired in chronic hepatitis C. The hepatic peptide hormone hepcidin is thought to play an important role in both, iron metabolism and inflammation. Therefore, pro-hepcidin levels were determined in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Pro-hepcidin levels were measured by ELISA in the serum of 175 patients with chronic HCV infection and 66 healthy controls. Additionally, serum iron parameters and HFE-mutations were determined.

Results: Pro-hepcidin levels were significantly lower in patients with chronic hepatitis C compared to healthy controls (144±13 ng/ml vs. 402±51 ng/ml; p<0.0001). Among patients with HCV pro-hepcidin levels decreased with increasing inflammatory activity (G0/1: 220±31 ng/ml, G2: 131±16 ng/ml; G3: 106±32 ng/ l) and fibrosis (F1: 234±32 ng/ml; F2: 166±35 ng/ml; F3: 119±23 ng/ml; F4: 80±9 ng/ml). Lowest pro-hepcidin levels were found in patients with liver cirrhosis (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Low pro-hepcidin levels in liver cirrhosis might be a clue for a high iron burden in patients with liver cirrhosis and their susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections.

Key words

virus – HFE – hepcidin – iron – hepatitis C