SERUM PRO-HEPCIDIN LEVELS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH IRON PARAMETERS IN HEALTHY PRETERM AND TERM NEWBORNS.

A recently isolated peptide hormone, hepcidin, is thought to be the principal regulator of iron homeostasis. Hepcidin acts by limiting intestinal iron absorption and promoting iron retention in reticuloendothelial cells. Its precursor peptide form is called pro-hepcidin. The aims of this study were to determine serum pro-hepcidin levels in healthy preterm and term newborns, and to assess possible relationships between pro-hepcidin and serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin. A serum sample was collected from each of 26 healthy preterm (gestational age [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]