Serum hepcidin level with iron profile assay might replace bone marrow iron study as a diagnostic tool for evaluation of anemia in elderly without chronic renal disease

Though serum hepcidin level correlates well with serum iron profile and also serum hepcidin appears to be a useful marker to differentiate ACD from IDA in terms of both sensitivity and specificity, the combined assessment of serum hepcidin and iron profile appears to be a better marker than ferritin and hepcidin alone. This could replace the use of bone marrow iron staining as a diagnostic tool in anemia in elderly.