Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Hepcidin is an acute-phase protein and a key regulator of iron homeostasis. Anemia frequently occurs in patients with hyperthyroidism, while hepcidin may be a potential link.

Objectives: Prospective evaluation of hepcidin serum concentration and other parameters related to Fe homeostasis in group of hyperthyroid patients in the course of Graves’ disease (GD) at diagnosis and after restoration of euthyroidism.

Patients and Methods: 42 (32 women, 10 men) patients met inclusion criteria, aged 42.5 ± 15.1 years. Clinical and biochemical assessment, including hepcidin measurement by ELISA method was performed at baseline (T0) and in remission state (T1). The follow-up was presented for 24 patients.

Results: Hepcidin concentration at T0 was significantly higher if compared to the value during euthyroidism [28.7 (8.1–39.4) ng/ml vs. 7.9 (4.3–12.9) ng/ml, P < 0.001]. Hepcidin level most statistical significantly correlated with ferritin (rho = 0.723) in women at T0. In both men [377 (171–411) vs. 165 (84–237) ng/ml, P = 0.001] and women [84 (23–104) vs. 35 (16–64) ng/ml, P = 0.001] a significant decrease in ferritin level was demonstrated following therapy.

Conclusions: Hepcidin level decreases significantly during transition from hyperthyroid state to euthyroidism in patients with GD. The observed changes occur presumably in parallel to iron homeostasis fluctuation, which is expressed by ferritin level decrease.