Assessment of Interleukin-6 and Hepcidin in the Therapeutic Follow-up of Inflammatory Anaemia in Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis and Haemodialysis Patients in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory anaemia complicates multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and chronic renal failure (CRF), and altered iron availability may contribute to persistent anaemia despite iron supplementation or erythropoietin therapy. Aim: This study evaluated interleukin-6 (IL-6), hepcidin and ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (CRPus) as biochemical markers relevant to therapeutic follow-up in these conditions. Methods: A prospective experimental study included 30 MDR-TB patients receiving treatment and iron supplementation, 30 haemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease receiving recombinant erythropoietin, and 30 controls. CRPus was measured by latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry, while IL-6 and hepcidin were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Principal component analysis, the Kruskal–Wallis test and Dunn’s post-hoc comparisons were used for statistical analysis. Results: Mean IL-6 concentrations were 107.70 ± 43.68 pg/mL in MDR-TB patients, 132.70 ± 113.90 pg/mL in CRF patients and 3.36 ± 0.92 pg/mL in controls. CRPus was highest in MDR-TB patients (41.90 ± 45.19 mg/L), compared with CRF patients (5.95 ± 6.31 mg/L) and controls (3.65 ± 3.14 mg/L). Hepcidin concentrations were similar in MDR-TB and CRF patients (41.24 ± 3.02 and 40.82 ± 3.10 µg/L, respectively) and higher than in controls (22.97 ± 3.69 µg/L). Conclusion: The findings indicate distinct inflammatory biomarker profiles in MDR-TB and CRF. IL-6 and hepcidin may be useful candidates for further evaluation in monitoring inflammatory anaemia.