Naim UZUN, Adem KESKİN, Recai ACI, Melek BİLGİN, Mahcube ÇUBUKÇU
Eurasian Journal of Family Medicine - 2026;15(2):139-145
Aim: The aim of this research was to compare hepcidin values between children with celiac disease and healthy children and to investigate the relation of these values with iron findings. Methods: This case-control study included forty-six pediatric celiac patients and forty-four healthy children. Iron metabolism indicators, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and hepcidin levels were examined. The relationship between hepcidin levels and other parameters was evaluated. Results: Hepcidin, iron, ferritin, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume levels were lower, while total iron binding capacity, platelet count, red blood cell distribution width and erythrocyte sedimentation rate values were higher in the celiac group compared to the control group. Hepcidin values showed positive correlation with serum iron levels in both the celiac group and the control group. In the celiac group, hepcidin levels showed positive correlation with ferritin and mean platelet volume and negative correlation with red blood cell distribution width and platelet count. These correlations were not observed in the control group. Conclusion: In addition to the relation between hepcidin values and iron values, it is also noteworthy that hepcidin is associated with platelet production and activation, particularly in pediatric celiac disease patients, and is linked to impaired erythrocyte morphology accompanying decreased iron stores.
