The Levels of Hepcidin and Erythropoietin in Pregnant Women with Anemia of Various Geneses

Abstract

AIM: The purpose of the present research was to study the content of erythropoietin and hepcidin in serum in pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia and anaemia of chronic inflammation.

METHODS: The authors examined 98 pregnant women who were observed in LLP (Regional obstetric-gynaecological centre) in Karaganda. The including criteria for pregnant women in the study was the informed consent of the woman to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria were oncological diseases, HIV-infection, tuberculosis, severe somatic pathology, mental illness, drug addiction. The design of the study was by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, international ethical norms and normative documents of research organisations, approved by the ethics committee of the Karaganda State Medical University.

RESULTS: As a result of the study, it was determined that the content of erythropoietin and hepcidin in pregnant women with anemias of different genesis varies ambiguously. In the main group of pregnant women with IDA, the erythropoietin content rises, and the hepcidin level decreases. In pregnant women with ACI, on the contrary, the level of hepcidin increases, and in one subgroup it is significant. However, in pregnant women and with IDA and anemia of chronic inflammation, there is a subgroup of women in whom erythropoietin is either comparable with hepcidin, or their changes are of opposite nature.

CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that the obtained data indicate ambiguous changes in the level of erythropoietin and hepcidin in pregnant women with anaemias of various origins. In all likelihood, there are still unaccounted factors affecting the content of these protein-regulators of iron metabolism, which require further definition and interpretation in anaemia of pregnant women.