Serum Hepcidin and Prohepcidin Levels in Nonfebrile and Febrile Neutropenia

Abstract

Objective: To compare the prohepcidin and hepcidin levels in the afebrile neutropenic period and neutropenic fever in patients with hematological malignancy. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Hematology, Pamukkale University Hospital, Denizli, Turkey, between January 2018 and December 2019. Methodology: Neutropenic patients were compared with a healthy control group. Prohepcidin and hepcidin serum levels were to be measured in neutropenic and control groups. When fever occurred in neutropenic group, serum was taken again and the same values were compared, in addition to procalcitonin and CRP values. Results: Prohepcidin and hepcidin levels were found to be significantly higher in the neutropenic group (n = 53) than the control group [n = 44, (med:166.65 ng/ml, IQR:147.66 - 187.38 ng/ml vs. med:47.49 ng/ml, IQR:15.61 - 82.51 ng/ml; p <0.001); (med:315 ng/ml, IQR:314.92 - 315 ng/ml vs. med:26.61 ng/ml, IQR:4.69 - 66.83 ng/ml; p <0.001)]. No significant difference was found in terms of these two analyses (167.29 +/- 29.31 ng/mlvs. 167.15 +/- 27.61 ng/ml; p = 0.979; 296.21 +/- 37.19 ng/mlvs 299.16 +/- 37.68 ng/ml; p= 0.629) in the neutropenic fever period compared to the afebrile neutropenic period. In neutropenic fever patients, procalcitonin and CRP (C-reactive protein) were found significantly higher than the afebnile neutropenic group (0.7 +/- 1.2 ng/ml vs. 0.25 +/- 0.76 ng/ml; p = 0.034; 10.27 +/- 9.93 mg/dl vs 2.61 +/- 2.78 mg/dl; p <0.001). Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference between afebnile neutropenia and neutropenic fever in patients in terms of hepcidin and prohepcidin levels, higher levels were found in both groups compared to the control group.