1
|
Chibanda Y, Brookes M, Churchill D, Al-Hassi H. The Ferritin, Hepcidin and Cytokines Link in the Diagnoses of Iron Deficiency Anaemia during Pregnancy: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13323. [PMID: 37686128 PMCID: PMC10488244 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Following a diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy, iron supplements are prescribed using UK guidelines; however, despite this, the condition remains highly prevalent, affecting up to 30% of pregnant women in the UK. According to the World Health Organisation, it globally accounts for 45% in the most vulnerable groups of pregnant women and infants (<5 years old). Recently, the efficacy of iron replacement therapy and the effectiveness of current standard testing of iron parameters have been reviewed in order to evaluate whether a more accurate diagnosis can be made using alternative and/or supplementary markers. Furthermore, many questions remain about the mechanisms involved in iron metabolism during pregnancy. The most recent studies have shed more light on serum hepcidin and raised questions on the significance of pregnancy related inflammatory markers including cytokines in iron deficiency anaemia. However, research into this is still scarce, and this review aims to contribute to further understanding and elucidating these areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Chibanda
- Research Institute in Healthcare Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Matthew Brookes
- Gastroenterology, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton WV10 0QP, UK
| | - David Churchill
- Obstetrics, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton WV10 0QP, UK
| | - Hafid Al-Hassi
- Research Institute in Healthcare Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sun P, Zhou Y, Xu S, Wang X, Li X, Li H, Lin Z, Huang F, Zhu L, Zhu Y. Elevated first-trimester hepcidin level is associated with reduced risk of iron deficiency anemia in late pregnancy: a prospective cohort study. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1147114. [PMID: 37654476 PMCID: PMC10465702 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1147114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) during pregnancy are highly prevalent worldwide. Hepcidin is considered an important biomarker of iron status. Currently, few longitudinal cohort studies have assessed the potential causal relationship between hepcidin and ID/IDA. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of first-trimester maternal serum hepcidin with third-trimester ID/IDA risk in a prospective cohort. Methods Total of 353 non-ID/IDA pregnant women at 11-13 weeks' gestation were enrolled in Southern China and followed up to 38 weeks of gestation. Data on demography and anthropometry were obtained from a structured questionnaire at enrollment. Iron biomarkers including hepcidin were measured at enrollment and follow-up. Regression models were used to evaluate the association of first-trimester hepcidin with third-trimester ID/IDA risk. Results Serum hepcidin levels substantially decreased from 19.39 ng/mL in the first trimester to 1.32 ng/mL in the third trimester. Incidences of third-trimester ID and IDA were 46.2 and 11.4%, respectively. Moreover, moderate and high levels of first-trimester hepcidin were positively related to third-trimester hepcidin (log-transformed β = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.01, 1.00 and log-transformed β = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.15, 1.17). Importantly, elevated first-trimester hepcidin was significantly associated with reduced risk of third-trimester IDA (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.15, 0.99), but not with ID after adjustment with potential confounders. Conclusion First-trimester hepcidin was negatively associated with IDA risk in late pregnancy, indicating higher first-trimester hepcidin level may predict reduced risk for developing IDA. Nonetheless, given the limited sample size, larger studies are still needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Sun
- Shenzhen Nanshan Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yueqin Zhou
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suhua Xu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuxiu Li
- Shenzhen Nanshan Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hailin Li
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zongyu Lin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fenglian Huang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lewei Zhu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanna Zhu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ssewanyana D, Borque SL, Lye SJ, Matthews SG. Hepcidin across pregnancy and its correlation with maternal markers of iron and inflammation, maternal body weight outcomes, and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. AJOG GLOBAL REPORTS 2023; 3:100222. [PMID: 37645642 PMCID: PMC10461250 DOI: 10.1016/j.xagr.2023.100222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the correlation between maternal hepcidin and other biomarkers of iron status, markers of inflammation, and maternal body weight during pregnancy, as well as neurodevelopment in the offspring. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase were searched from inception until March 2022. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Studies conducted among pregnant women without apparent pregnancy complications were included. Eligible studies reported correlation coefficients between maternal hepcidin and any outcomes of maternal biomarkers of iron status or inflammatory load during pregnancy, prenatal maternal body weight, and offspring neurodevelopment. Studies without correlation data were eligible if they quantitatively reported volumes of both maternal hepcidin and any marker of iron status and/or inflammatory load during gestation. METHODS Pooled correlation coefficients between maternal hepcidin and outcomes of interest were calculated using the Fisher r-to-Z transformation. Both fixed-effects and DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models were used to calculate pooled correlation coefficient. When meta-analysis was not feasible, results were descriptively synthesized. RESULTS Forty-six studies with 6624 participants were eligible. Hepcidin was significantly correlated with hemoglobin in the third trimester (r=0.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.32); ferritin in the first (r=0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.61) and third trimester (r=0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.48); soluble transferrin receptor in the second trimester (r=-0.27; 95% confidence interval, -0.4 to -0.14); total iron-binding capacity in the second trimester (r=0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.50); and serum iron in the third trimester (r=0.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.19). Hepcidin was significantly correlated with the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 in the third trimester (r=0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.34) and C-reactive protein in the second (r=0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.30) and third trimester (r=0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.52). Four out of 5 studies reported weak-to-moderate positive correlation between hepcidin and body mass index. Hepcidin levels varied across body mass index categories. No single study reported the relationship between maternal hepcidin and neurodevelopment in offspring. CONCLUSION Hepcidin weakly to moderately correlates with biomarkers of iron and inflammation in pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Derrick Ssewanyana
- Departments of Physiology (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
- Medicine (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Canada (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
| | - Stephane L. Borque
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (Dr Borque)
| | - Stephen J. Lye
- Departments of Physiology (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
- Medicine (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Canada (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
| | - Stephen G. Matthews
- Departments of Physiology (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
- Medicine (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Toronto, Canada (Drs Ssewanyana, Lye, and Matthews)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Delaney KM, Guillet R, Pressman EK, Ganz T, Nemeth E, O'Brien KO. Serum Erythroferrone During Pregnancy Is Related to Erythropoietin but Does Not Predict the Risk of Anemia. J Nutr 2021; 151:1824-1833. [PMID: 33982118 PMCID: PMC8245876 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maintaining adequate iron status during pregnancy is important for the mother and her developing fetus. Iron homeostasis is influenced by 3 regulatory hormones: erythropoietin (EPO), hepcidin, and erythroferrone (ERFE). To date, normative data on ERFE across pregnancy and its relations to other hormones and iron status indicators are limited. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to characterize maternal ERFE across pregnancy and at delivery and evaluate the utility of hepcidin, ERFE, and EPO in identifying women with increased iron needs. METHODS ERFE was measured in extant serum samples collected from 2 longitudinal cohorts composed of women carrying multiple fetuses (n = 79) and pregnant adolescents (n = 218) at midgestation (∼26 wk) and delivery (∼39 wk). Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to characterize the predictive ability of serum ERFE, hepcidin, and EPO and their ratios to identify women at increased risk of iron deficiency and anemia. RESULTS In these pregnant women, mean ERFE was 0.48 ng/mL at both ∼25 wk of gestation and at delivery. ERFE was positively associated with EPO at midgestation (β = 0.14, P = 0.002, n = 202) and delivery (β = 0.12, P < 0.001, n = 225) but was not significantly associated with maternal hepcidin at any time point surveyed. Of all hormones measured at midgestation and delivery, EPO was best able to identify women with anemia (AUC: 0.86 and 0.75, respectively) and depleted iron stores (AUC: 0.77 and 0.84), whereas the hepcidin-to-EPO ratio was best able to identify women with iron deficiency anemia (AUC: 0.85 and 0.84). CONCLUSIONS Maternal ERFE was significantly associated with EPO but was not able to identify women with gestational iron deficiency. At term, the hepcidin-to-EPO ratio, an index that accounts for both iron status and erythropoietic demand, and EPO were the strongest indicators of maternal iron deficiency and anemia. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04517734 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04517734).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ronnie Guillet
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Eva K Pressman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Tomas Ganz
- Center for Iron Disorders, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeta Nemeth
- Center for Iron Disorders, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mintz J, Mirza J, Young E, Bauckman K. Iron Therapeutics in Women's Health: Past, Present, and Future. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:E449. [PMID: 33302392 PMCID: PMC7762600 DOI: 10.3390/ph13120449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron plays a unique physiological role in the maintenance of homeostasis and the pathological outcomes of the female reproductive tract. The dual nature of elemental iron has created an evolutionary need to tightly regulate its biological concentration. The female reproductive tract is particularly unique due to the constant cycle of endometrial growth and shedding, in addition to the potential need for iron transfer to a developing fetus. Here, iron regulation is explored in a number of physiologic states including the endometrial lining and placenta. While iron dysregulation is a common characteristic in many women's health pathologies there is currently a lack of targeted therapeutic options. Traditional iron therapies, including iron replacement and chelation, are common treatment options for gynecological diseases but pose long term negative health consequences; therefore, more targeted interventions directed towards iron regulation have been proposed. Recent findings show potential benefits in a therapeutic focus on ferritin-hepcidin regulation, modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and iron mediated cell death (ferroptosis). These novel therapeutics are the direct result of previous research in iron's complex signaling pathway and show promise for improved therapy, diagnosis, and prognosis in women's health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kyle Bauckman
- Department of Academic Affairs, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL 33314, USA; (J.M.); (J.M.); (E.Y.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Means RT. Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia: Implications and Impact in Pregnancy, Fetal Development, and Early Childhood Parameters. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12020447. [PMID: 32053933 PMCID: PMC7071168 DOI: 10.3390/nu12020447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A normal pregnancy consumes 500–800 mg of iron from the mother. Premenopausal women have a high incidence of marginal iron stores or iron deficiency (ID), with or without anemia, particularly in the less developed world. Although pregnancy is associated with a “physiologic” anemia largely related to maternal volume expansion; it is paradoxically associated with an increase in erythrocyte production and erythrocyte mass/kg. ID is a limiting factor for this erythrocyte mass expansion and can contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This review summarizes erythrocyte and iron balance observed in pregnancy; its implications and impact on mother and child; and provides an overview of approaches to the recognition of ID in pregnancy and its management, including clinically relevant questions for further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert T. Means
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Medical Education, and Pathology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA; ; Tel.: +1-423-439-6499; Fax: +1-423-439-6470
- Internal Medicine, Building 2/Room 109, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
| |
Collapse
|