The pathogenesis of the anaemia of chronic disorders

C.U Manzini,C Ferri,E Manzini

doi:10.4081/reumatismo.2012.128

Abstract

Anemia of chronic disorders is a typical condition of infective, immunological and neoplastic diseases. Hepcidin and proinflammatory cytokines play a leading role in its pathogenesis. Hepcidin is a hormone produced by the liver that controls iron metabolism. It ensures that iron is retained by enterocytes (where the metal is absorbed) and by macrophages (that store the iron that results from the physiological breakdown of erythrocytes). Cytokines play a role in hepcidin synthesis, and in the proliferation and the maturation of the erythroid components within bone marrow. This paper discusses the pathogenetic mechanisms of anemia in chronic disorders.

Highlights

U.O.C. di Reumatologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Modena, Italy summary Anemia of chronic disorders is a typical condition of infective, immunological and neoplastic diseases
Biochemical parameters show a reduction in serum iron, low transferrin saturation and a decrease in total iron binding capacity, in contrast to true iron deficiency in which there is an increase in total iron binding capacity
To explore the alterations in iron metabolism presented in Anemia of chronic diseases (ACD) it is useful to take a brief look at the principle mechanisms that regulate iron absorption and its use in normal subjects

Summary

Introduction

U.O.C. di Reumatologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Modena, Italy summary Anemia of chronic disorders is a typical condition of infective, immunological and neoplastic diseases. Ferroportin is abundantly expressed on macrophages of the sterol regulatory element (SRE) of the liver, of the spleen and of the bone marrow showing that this protein carries iron from the cells, that they recycle the iron from aged erythrocytes [11] and, at the same time, confirms the existence of a common iron release mechanism both by macrophages and by enterocytes.

Results

Conclusion