HEMATOLOGY / RESEARCH PAPER
The Relationship Between Ghrelin and Iron Metabolism In Beta Thalassemia Major Patients
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1
Saglik Bilimleri University Antalya SUAM
Department of Biochemistry, Turkey
2
Antalya City Hospital Department of Rheumatology, Turkey
3
Saglik Bilimleri University Antalya SUAM Department of Hematology, Turkey
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2024-01-05
Final revision date: 2024-02-20
Acceptance date: 2024-02-20
Online publication date: 2024-10-26
Corresponding author
Ayşegül UĞUR KURTOĞLU
Saglik Bilimleri University Antalya SUAM
Department of Biochemistry, Varlık Mah. Antalya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, 07050, Antalya, Turkey
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ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Studies in beta thalassemia major (β-TM) patients have shown that the responses of HIF2α, hepcidin and ferroportin molecules to high iron levels are impaired. In recent years, studies conducted in patients with iron deficiency anemia have investigated the relationship between ghrelin hormone and iron metabolism. In this study, we aimed to contribute to the etiopathogenesis of this disease by examining the changes in ghrelin hormone levels in patients with β-TM.
Material and methods:
Fifty-two β-TM and 23 controls were included in our study. Blood counts, routine biochemical parameters, HIF2α, hepcidin and ghrelin levels were studied in blood samples taken from the volunteers.
Results:
Erythrocyte indexes, serum bilirubin, iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity and ferritin levels showed significant differences between two groups (p<0.05) . There was no significant difference between two groups for serum HIF2α and hepcidin levels. When two groups were compared, ghrelin levels were found to be significantly higher in patients (p<0.05). When the correlation between parameters was examined in all subjects, a weak positive correlation was found between ghrelin and HIF2α (r=0.263) (p<0.05) and a significant positive correlation was found between ghrelin and ferritin (r=0.417) (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
Our study showed that there is a positive correlation between ghrelin and ferritin levels. Elevated ghrelin levels in patients with β-TM may have an important role in regulating impaired iron metabolism. Molecular level studies are needed to determine synthesis pathways.