Targeting the Hepcidin-Ferroportin Axis in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Anemias

Table 1

Diagnostic and therapeutic potenital of hepcidin in different forms of anemia.

Condition	Expected hepcidin levels	Other iron parameters	Hepcidin therapy
Iron deficiency anemia	Low	Low Tsat and ferritin
Iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia	High	Low Tsat and ferritin	Antagonist
Iron-loading anemias	Low (unless transfused)	High Tsat and ferritin	Agonist
Anemia of inflammation	High	Low Tsat, normal-to-elevated ferritin	Antagonist
Mixed anemia (AI/IDA)	Normal	Low Tsat, low-to-normal ferritin	Antagonist
Chronic kidney disease	High	Variable	Antagonist
Erythropoietin resistance	High	Variable	Antagonist

Tsat = transferrin saturation.