Evaluation of Hepcidin and Interleukin-6 in Patients with Beta-Thalassemia Major

Background: In β- thalassemia major, irregularly transfused patients, hepcidin usually high due to increased iron load and the alleviation of ineffective erythropoiesis; rather than regularly transfused patients. Elevation of interleukin-6 in β- thalassemia had been reported in few theses.Aim of the study: To evaluate the level of serum hepcidin, interleukin-6 and ferritin in patients with β-thalassemia Materials and Methods: This was a case control study conducted at thalassemia center of Ibn Al-Atheer Teaching Hospital in Nineveh Province during a period of six months between February and August 2022. It included 180 participants divided into two groups: Case group included 90 patients diagnosed as β-thalassemia major, aged between 5 - 40 years and control group included 90 healthy persons matched in age and gender to the case group. Results: In this study, means of IL-6, hepcidin, and ferritin were significantly higher with P-value(0.001 , 0.001 , 0.001) respectively, while mean of Hb was significantly lower with P-value(0.001) in case group than that in controls. Strong negative correlation detected between ferritin and hepcidin, weak negative correlation found between ferritin and IL-6, and weak positive correlation between hepcidin and IL-6.Conclusions: Iron overload and alleviation of ineffective erythropoiesis made Hepcidin, interleukin-6 and ferritin higher in β-thalassemia major patients. Hepcidin and interleukin-6 levels have significant inverse correlation with serum level of ferritin. There was direct linear relationship between Interleukin-6 and hepcidin.