Prohepcidin, Inflammation and Iron Homeostasis in Hemodialysis Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study is to address questions regarding the link among hepcidin, hematological iron markers, inflammation and hepatitis C in HD patients. In attempt to address this issue, we planned to measure serum levels of hepcidin prohormone (pro-hepcidin), inflammatory and iron parameters.

Detailed Description
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the world and also common among chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Patients with chronic HCV often have increased liver iron, a condition associated with reduced sustained response to antiviral therapy, more rapid progression to cirrhosis, and development of hepatocellular carcinoma; however, little is known about the mechanism of iron accumulation in the liver. Recently identified hepcidin, a 25-amino acid peptide hormone exclusively synthesized in the liver, is thought to be a key regulator for iron homeostasis and is induced by infection and inflammation. Hepcidin expression is modulated by iron stores, so that it decreases in iron deficiency to facilitate iron absorption while it increases in iron repletion to prevent pathological overload. Interleukin (IL)-6 has been proposed as a major inducer of hepcidin, via direct transcriptional activation of hepatic hepcidin expression by binding to its receptor complex containing gp130 to activate janus kinase (JAK) and activator of transcription 3 (STAT 3).

Official Title
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Comparison of Prohepcidin, Inflammation and Iron Homeostasis in Hemodialysis Patients With and Without Chronic Hepatitis C

Conditions
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Renal Failure Chronic Requiring Hemodialysis, Hepatitis C

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Chronic hemodialysis patients Exclusion Criteria: Patients positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) Patients previously diagnosed nonrenal cause of anemia other than iron deficiency Patients with an evidence of active or occult bleeding Patients received blood transfusion within the past 4 months Patients with a history of malignancy, end-stage liver disease, or chronic hypoxia Patients with a history of recent hospitalization or infection requiring antibiotics within the past 4 weeks.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| HCV (+)<br>Hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C | |
| HCV (-)<br>Hemodialysis patients without chronic hepatitis C | |
| Control<br>Healthy volunteers | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Association of prohepcidin and inflammation |  | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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hemodialysis, hepatitis C, inflammation, iron stores, prohepcidin