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Changes in serum hepcidin levels in children with inflammatory bowel disease during anti‐inflammatory treatment
Author(s) -
Karaskova Eva,
Volejnikova Jana,
Holub Dusan,
VelganovaVeghova Maria,
Spenerova Michaela,
Mihal Vladimir,
Pospisilova Dagmar
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.14593
Subject(s) - medicine , hepcidin , ulcerative colitis , inflammatory bowel disease , gastroenterology , interquartile range , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , inflammation , c reactive protein , disease , immunology
Aim The aim of this study was to compare changes in serum hepcidin levels in paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease during therapy and correlate them with markers of iron metabolism, inflammation and type of treatment. Methods Children with newly diagnosed Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were included in this longitudinal study. Blood and stool samples were collected to assess levels of serum hepcidin and markers of iron metabolism parameters and inflammation. The parameters were examined before treatment (baseline levels) and compared with levels in the follow‐up period during maintenance therapy (mean follow‐up of 39 months after diagnosis). Results Patients with CD ( n = 30) had higher serum hepcidin levels (expressed as a median and interquartile range) at diagnosis than subjects with UC ( n = 13). These levels significantly decreased during the follow‐up (from 36.5 (11.5–79.6) to 2.1 (0.9–6.7) ng/mL). In contrast, no significant serum hepcidin level changes were observed in the UC patients (5.4 (3.4–16.6) vs. 4.8 (0.9–8.1) ng/mL). While hepcidin level changes correlated with disease activity and inflammatory parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein), in CD patients, they correlated only with serum iron levels in patients with UC. Biological therapy was accompanied by a significant decrease in C‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6 compared to conventional anti‐inflammatory therapy in CD patients. Conclusions Children with CD had higher serum hepcidin levels on diagnosis compared to subjects with UC. During an anti‐inflammatory therapy, serum hepcidin decreased in the CD group but remained consistently low in children with UC.