Inflammation interferes with iron utilization in chronic kidney disease through hepcidin. In our study, iron levels, ferritin, CRP and hepcidin levels were analyzed in newly diagnosed end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. A total of 50 ESRD patients and 5 healthy controls were studied. 40 recently detected ESRD patients on hemodialysis and 10 patients with Stage 4 CKD not received HD or parenteral iron, 22 out of 40 ESRD patients had already received prior parenteral iron or blood products. The ESRD patients had a significantly lower estimated albumin; and higher transferrin saturation (TSAT) and raised serum ferritin and Hepcidin levels. Hepcidin levels correlated significantly with Ferritin levels. Whereas ferritin levels correlated significantly with CRP levels. There have been elevated serum hepcidin levels in ESRD patients more in those receiving Iron therapy. High hepcidin levels could explain the functional iron deficiency. Larger randomized multicenter studies could throw more light on the diagnostic and therapeutic potentials of using Hepcidin-25 levels in regular practice.

Keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease; Hepcidin; CRP; Hemodialysis.