The effects of a single dialysis session on serum hepcidin levels

Abstract Objectives Hepcidin plays an important role in regulating iron metabolism. Elevated levels of hepcidin in renal failure contribute to the development of anemia. We aimed to evaluate the association between hepcidin and inflammation in hemodialysis patients and how dialysis affects hepcidin levels. Methods Hepcidin clearance with hemodialysis was investigated by measuring hepcidin concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method before and after hemodialysis of 40 patients in a single dialysis session. Hemogram parameters and ferritin, iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured and evaluated their relations with predialysis hepcidin levels. Results Hepcidin levels decreased significantly with dialysis treatment (p=0.009). Median hepcidin concentration before dialysis was measured as 330 ng/mL (83–459) and post-dialysis median hepcidin concentration was 250 ng/mL (94–384). There was a significant correlation between predialysis hepcidin levels and ferritin (r=0.858, p<0.001), TIBC (r=−0.451, p=0.004), and MCV (r=0.384, p=0.016). It was found that increases in ferritin levels in time were positively correlated with hepcidin before dialysis. Conclusions We think that understanding the removal of the hepcidin by dialysis, which causes a decrease in the amount of iron available in the anemia, is important in managing future therapy.