Serum hepcidin levels and cardiovascular outcomes in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: a study from South India

Abstract

Background Cardiovascular mortality is high in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Different factors and plausible mechanisms have been explained for the increased risk. A recent concept of iron dysregulation and the related biomarker serum hepcidin was thought to be one of the novel markers of cardiovascular disease. We undertook this study to study the fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events in dialysis population. Patients and methods All the patients who satisfied inclusion criteria were included in the study. All the patients have been on either twice-/thrice-weekly dialysis with polysulfone membrane of 1.3-m2 surface area. Serum hepcidin levels were estimated in blood samples using the appropriate techniques. All the patients were followed up for 18 months to assess the fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular outcomes. Results A total of 80 patients satisfied the criteria and were followed up. Mean serum hepcidin levels were 116.3 ± 32 ng/ml. On univariate analysis of factors influencing mortality, age, sex, and presence of comorbidities did not show significant association, but the levels of serum bicarbonate, albumin, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, and the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, hepcidin, showed a significant association with mortality. Serum hepcidin level of 120 ng/ml predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 85%. Conclusions Serum hepcidin is associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients on hemodialysis. Hepcidin levels may serve a good predictor of cardiovascular outcomes in patients on hemodialysis.