Vera Ghali: The Role of Hepcidin Assays in Diagnosing Iron Disorders
Vera Ghali, Member of the Lebanese Order of Physicians and Lebanese Pediatric Society, shared Blood Journals Portfolio’s post on X:
“The importance of hepcidin assays in the diagnosis of iron disorders.
Systemic iron homeostasis is predominantly controlled by hepcidin which is secreted by hepatocytes.
Hepcidin is a peptide hormone, the central hormonal regulator of systemic iron homeostasis and a critical mediator and biomarker of iron disorders.
It has a central role in controlling dietary iron absorption, iron recycling by macrophages, and iron storage through its interaction with the iron exporter ferroportin, a ferrous iron transporter that exports iron out of cells into the blood stream.
Its synthesis is regulated by iron status, inflammation, and erythropoietic demand via hepatic bone morphogenetic protein-SMAD pathway and its modulators such as erythroferrone and IL-6-janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling.
Hepcidin also acts as an acute-phase reactant during infections and inflammation.
Genetic hepcidin deficiency causes hemochromatosis and predisposes to infections, whereas its excess causes iron-refractory-iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA).
Hepcidin assays can be used to determine iron overload disorders, iron-loading anemia, transfusional iron overload, inherited IRIDA, inflammation, and erythroid activity.
However, correct interpretation of hepcidin assays requires distinguishing hepcidin’s role as a pathogenic driver versus a biomarker of disease.
Currently, hepcidin assays are most helpful in complex or rare iron disorders where existing approaches are not sufficient for decision making strategies.”
Blood Journals Portfolio shared a post on X about a recent article by Elizabeta Nemeth and Tomas Ganz, published in Blood Red Cells and Iron, adding:
“Hepcidin is the principal regulator of systemic iron metabolism and a biomarker of iron status, inflammation, and erythroid activity.
Read the full article in Blood RCI.”
Title: Hepcidin assays in the diagnostic workup of iron disorders: rationale, indications, and interpretation
Authors: Elizabeta Nemeth, Tomas Ganz
Stay updated on all scientific advances with Hemostasis Today.
-
Oct 21, 2026, 14:58Radoš Stefanović: How Red Blood Cells Adapt After Exercise
-
Oct 21, 2026, 13:52Negar Asdaghi: Could Cilostazol Improve Hematoma Clearance After ICH
-
Oct 21, 2026, 10:33Karen Schreiber: Beyond Clinical Outcomes – The Voices of Women with APS
-
Oct 21, 2026, 10:11Tau Braun: Clots Through the Copper-Zinc Model
-
Oct 21, 2026, 09:55Cristina Figueroa Villalba: Celebrating Excellence in Transfusion Medicine
-
Oct 21, 2026, 09:43Ahmad Gharehbaghian: How Can Blood Supplies Be Sustained During a Crisis?
-
Oct 21, 2026, 09:30Adrián Dante De Angelis: Research That Opens New Possibilities for Recurrent iTTP
-
Oct 21, 2026, 09:13Jarod Horobin: Blood 2026 – Connecting Science and People
-
Oct 21, 2026, 08:35Raeeda Gheewala: VTE in Athletes – Risks Beyond the Playing Field