Is Serum Hepcidin a Useful Diagnostic Test for Iron Deficiency?

Abstract

Abstract Abstract 2056 Introduction: Iron deficiency remains the commonest blood disorder worldwide. Hepcidin is a key regulator of iron homeostasis. In iron depletion, decreased hepcidin facilitates increased iron absorption and recycling. Hepcidin is detectable in whole blood, serum & urine, and although assays have been developed, the utility and clinically appropriate cutoffs for diagnosis of iron deficiency remain to be established. Blood donors are at particular risk of iron deficiency, yet early diagnosis remains challenging in this setting; thus donors are an ideal population in which to evaluate a new diagnostic test..