Hepcidin and Erythropoietin Level in Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disorder in which the red blood cells become rigid and sticky, and change from being disc-shaped to being crescent-shaped. The change in shape is as a result of an abnormal form of haemoglobin which leads to damage of some organs. Aim: The study was carried out to determine the levels of hepcidin and erythropoietin in sickle cell anemia. Materials and Methods: Thirty confirmed sickle cell patients in steady state (HbSS-SS) and thirty persons with normal hemoglobin (HbAA) between the ages of 15 to 30 years were selected in this study. Results: The results obtained showed that the levels of hepcidinin sickle cell anaemia patients were significantly elevated when compared with normal haemoglobin (HbAA) (P<0.05). However, the levels of erythropoietin were significantly decreased in sickle cell anaemia stable state when compared to HbAA subjects (P<0.05). Conclusion: This could probably imply that the elevation in hepcidin affect level of erythropoietin negatively. Therefore, it is possible that an antihepcidin could be developed as a therapeutic tool in sickle cell anaemia.