The role of hepcidin in formation of anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency anemia in elderly and old patients with chronic heart failure

Abstract

Background: Literature data on hepcidin (H) level - the main regulator of systemic iron homeostasis in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) - are contradictory. Relationships of H with markers of inflammation elevated level of which is characteristic of CHF are insufficiently studied. The latter problem remains practically unexplored in elderly and very old patients with CHF. Aim: to study the role of H in formation of anemia of chronic disease (ACD) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in elderly and very old patients with CHF. Material and methods: We examined 65 elderly and very old patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) (35 with CHF and ACD, 10 with CHF and IDA, 20 without CHF, ACD, and IDA [control group]). H level in blood serum was measured using competitive solid-phase immunoenzyme assay. Results and discussion: In patients with CHF and ACD mean H levels were significantly high relative to those in patients with CHF and IDA, while in the latter group H levels were insignificantly low relative to those in patients of control group. High H level, high level of inflammatory tests as well as positive correlations between them, and negative correlation between H and hemoglobin (Hb) are indicative of inflammation as a cause of H level elevation, which in turn facilitates development of anemia in elderly and very old patients with CHF and ACD. Low H level, normal levels of inflammatory tests, absence of links between them, as well as absence of correlation between H and Hb are indicative of lack of H role in development of anemia in these patients with CHF and IDA. We did not study influence on development of anemia of each of possible causes (inflammation, decompensation of CHF) separately, therefore contribution of each of them is unknown. The data obtained also do not exclude effect of other not investigated in this work and presently unknown factors. Received by us data indicate to necessity of precise identification of origin of anemia in every case in an elderly or very old patient with CHF with the aim of elimination of its cause and conduct of pathogenetically valid therapy.