Serum hepcidin as a diagnostic test of iron deficiency in premenopausal female blood donors

Abstract

Background Currently used indicators of iron status have limitations. Hepcidin, a key regulator of iron metabolism, is reduced in iron deficiency. We sought to determine the properties of hepcidin as a diagnostic test of iron deficiency. Design and Methods Sera from female, non-anemic, whole blood donors were analyzed for hepcidin (enzymelinked immunosorbent assay), ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor and C-reactive protein. Iron deficiency was defined as (i) serum ferritin less than 15 ng/mL or (ii) soluble transferrin receptor /log(ferritin) index greater than 3.2 if the C-reactive protein concentration was less than 10 mg/L, or greater than 2.2 if the C-reactive protein concentration w..