Serum iron metabolism markers including hepcidin in multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

The impact and pathogenesis of iron accumulation in multiple sclerosis (MS) is not yet clear. In this study, we investigated serum markers of iron metabolism, namely iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and hepcidin in patients with MS, and compared to a healthy control group. Thirty-five stable relapse remitting MS patients (15 males and 20 females; mean age 38 ± 11 years) and thirty-five age-sex matched healthy controls (13 males and 22 females; mean age 38 ± 10 years) were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed with MS, according to the criteria of McDonald. Serum transferrin and TIBC levels were significantly lower (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively), whereas hepcidin, iron and ferritin values did not show any significant difference (p = 0.8, p = 0.2 and p = 0.8, respectively) in patients with MS compared to controls. There was no statistically significant correlation between iron metabolism markers and disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale and progression index. Our results were as expected from a chronic disease; thus were in favor of local, rather than a systemic impairment in iron metabolism in these patients. Our study, contributes to the establishment of further hypotheses on the role of hepcidin and iron metabolism in MS.