Introduction: The risk of mortality for pediatric patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) is 30-
fold higher than that for healthy patients of the same age. The main cause of death is cardiovascular disease
(CVD), accounting for 25–50 % of deaths in children and young adults with childhood onset CKD.
Aim of the study: To study serum hepcidin level and its role in anemia and cardiovascular dysfunction
in children with CKD, either on hemodialysis (HD) or on conservative therapy.
Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 20 healthy individuals and from 30 patients with CKD on
regular dialysis (group I) and 20 patients with chronic kidney diseases on conservative therapy (group
II).The levels of hemoglobin , serum ferritin, s. iron , TIBC, serum hepcidin, and echo parameters in form
of fractional shortening (FS),l eft ventricular mass index (LVMI) and trans mitral to mitral annular early
diastolic velocity ratio (E/Ea’) ratio were determined and the correlation between them was studied.
Results: There is a significant increase in the serum hepcidin levels in group I and group II than the control
group. There was significant correlation between hepcidin and serum ferritin, s. iron, transferrin saturation,
FS, LVMI, E/Ea’ while there was a negative correlation between serum hepcidin and both hemoglobin
and TIBC.
Conclusion: Hepcidin level is a good biomarker for anemia and cardiac dysfunction in patients with
chronic kidney disease.