Hepcidin is a key iron-regulatory hormone, the production of which is controlled by iron stores, inflammation, hypoxia and erythropoiesis. The regulation of iron by hepcidin is of clinical importance in thalassemia patients in which anemia occurs along with iron overload. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum hepcidin and ferritin levels in thalassemia patients. This cross-sectional study investigated 64 patients with thalassemia; 16 β-thalassemia major (BTM), 31 β-thalassemia/ hemoglobin (Hb) E (BE), and 17 Hb H + AE Bart's disease (Hb H + AE Bart's). The levels of serum hepcidin and ferritin, and Hb of the three groups were measured. The median values of serum ferritin and Hb were significantly different among the three groups, whereas serum hepcidin values were not observed to be significantly different. The correlation of the serum hepcidin and ferritin levels was not statistically significant in any of the three groups of thalassemia patients with BTM, BE, or Hb H + AE Bart's (r = -0.141, 0.065 and -0.016, respectively). In conclusion, no statistically significant correlations were observed between serum hepcidin with any variables including serum ferritin, Hb, age, labile plasma iron (LPI), and number of blood transfusion units among the three groups of thalassemia patients. Likely, the regulation of hepcidin in thalassemia patients is affected more by erythropoietic activity than iron storage.

中文翻译：

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清迈大学医院地贫患者铁调素与血清铁蛋白水平的相关性。

铁调素是一种关键的铁调节激素，其产生受铁储存、炎症、缺氧和红细胞生成控制。铁调素对铁的调节在地中海贫血患者中具有重要的临床意义，在这些患者中，贫血与铁过载一起发生。本研究旨在评估地中海贫血患者血清铁调素和铁蛋白水平之间的相关性。这项横断面研究调查了 64 名地中海贫血患者；16 重型 β-地中海贫血 (BTM)、31 β-地中海贫血/血红蛋白 (Hb) E (BE) 和 17 Hb H + AE Bart 病 (Hb H + AE Bart's)。测定三组血清铁调素、铁蛋白及Hb水平。血清铁蛋白和 Hb 的中值在三组之间有显着差异，而血清铁调素值没有观察到显着差异。血清铁调素和铁蛋白水平的相关性在三组 BTM、BE 或 Hb H + AE Bart's 的地中海贫血患者中均无统计学意义（分别为 r = -0.141、0.065 和 -0.016）。总之，在三组地中海贫血患者中，血清铁调素与任何变量（包括血清铁蛋白、Hb、年龄、不稳定血浆铁（LPI）和输血单位数）之间均未观察到统计学上显着的相关性。很可能，地中海贫血患者中铁调素的调节受红细胞生成活性的影响比铁储存的影响更大。在三组地中海贫血患者中，血清铁调素与血清铁蛋白、Hb、年龄、不稳定血浆铁（LPI）和输血单位数等任何变量之间均未观察到统计学上的显着相关性。很可能，地中海贫血患者中铁调素的调节受红细胞生成活性的影响比铁储存的影响更大。在三组地中海贫血患者中，血清铁调素与血清铁蛋白、Hb、年龄、不稳定血浆铁（LPI）和输血单位数等任何变量之间均未观察到统计学上的显着相关性。很可能，地中海贫血患者中铁调素的调节受红细胞生成活性的影响比铁储存的影响更大。