TDK conference 2016

Hepcidin (hepatic bactericid protein) is a peptide hormone, mainly produced by the liver, which causes the internalisation of ferroportin, the only known iron exporter membrane protein, and influences the iron distribution of the body. In case of infection and inflammation the serum concentration of this hormone will be elevated, reducing serum iron level and preventing the pathogen microbes to obtain it. Causing an iron distribution disorder, the iron availability is lost for the bone marrow as well, which leads to decreased erithropoesis. In our research we investigated the role of hepcidin in the background of non-regenerative anaemia caused by inflammatory/chronic diseases in dogs. According to our hypothesis based on human studies, serum hepcidin level measured by ELISA in dogs with anaemia of chronic disease expectedly higher than in the healthy control group.

A prospective study was performed in the Small Animal Clinic of the University of Veterinary Medicine – Budapest, where different hematologic, biochemical parameters and concentrations of inflammatory proteins (C-reactive protein, hepcidin) of dogs (n=39) with anaemia (hematocrit < 0.35 l/l) caused by various chronic/inflammatory disorders were compared with a healthy control group (n= 67)

The study found significant difference between the sick and the healthy groups in hematocrit, C-reactive protein, urea, creatinin, ALT and total iron binding capacity levels. The mean serum hepcidin concentrations determined by ELISA was 1.27 ng/ml (0.02-4.18), that did not show significant distinction (p=0.9074) between the two groups (the mean value of the control group was 1.23 ng/ml, 0.32-2.78). However no significant difference in iron concentrations could be detected either (p=0.09104).

According to the results of a study finished parallel with this research we consider that the ELISA-method is imprecise in determining hepcidin level or in our patient population other causes are related to the non-regenerative anaemia.