The clinical value of plasma hepcidin levels in predicting bacterial infections in febrile children

Background: Febrile children are often evaluated for the risk of bacterial infections in the pediatric emergency department (PER). Hepcidin is an acute phase inflammatory protein. In this study, we examined the plasma hepcidin levels in febrile children. Methods: This study was conducted at a pediat...

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Main Authors: Jia-Huei Yan, Xin-Yuan Cai, Ying-Hsien Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019-08-01
Series:Pediatrics and Neonatology
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957218300287
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author Jia-Huei Yan
Xin-Yuan Cai
Ying-Hsien Huang
author_facet Jia-Huei Yan
Xin-Yuan Cai
Ying-Hsien Huang
author_sort Jia-Huei Yan
collection DOAJ
description Background: Febrile children are often evaluated for the risk of bacterial infections in the pediatric emergency department (PER). Hepcidin is an acute phase inflammatory protein. In this study, we examined the plasma hepcidin levels in febrile children. Methods: This study was conducted at a pediatric emergency department with 123 febrile children. We measured plasma hepcidin levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We further evaluated clinical characteristics and routine blood tests along with the hepcidin levels. Results: We observed significantly higher plasma hepcidin levels in bacterial enteritis (p = 0.026) and combined with urinary tract infection (p = 0.007). Furthermore, hepcidin levels had a significantly positive correlation with CRP level and length of hospital stay (R = 0.296, p = 0.001 and R = 0.213, p = 0.018). Hepcidin levels greater than 65 ng/mL also more accurately predicted bacterial infections than values below 65 ng/mL (11.7% vs. 2.1%, Odds ratio 8.4, 95% confident interval 1.7–40.9, p = 0.002). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that febrile children with bacterial infection have higher plasma hepcidin levels, and the values correlated with CRP level and length of hospital stay. Therefore, hepcidin values can potentially be adopted as a biomarker for identifying febrile children with bacterial infection, particularly bacterial enteritis and urinary tract infection. Key Words: bacterial infection, children, CRP, hepcidin
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spelling doaj-art-5faa5349997147fea1cd522d7adcf3912025-08-20T02:00:39ZengElsevierPediatrics and Neonatology1875-95722019-08-0160437738110.1016/j.pedneo.2018.09.001The clinical value of plasma hepcidin levels in predicting bacterial infections in febrile childrenJia-Huei Yan0Xin-Yuan Cai1Ying-Hsien Huang2Department of Pediatrics, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, TaiwanDepartment of Pediatrics, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, No. 6, Sec. West, Jiapu Rd., Puzi City, Chiayi County, 61363, Taiwan.Background: Febrile children are often evaluated for the risk of bacterial infections in the pediatric emergency department (PER). Hepcidin is an acute phase inflammatory protein. In this study, we examined the plasma hepcidin levels in febrile children. Methods: This study was conducted at a pediatric emergency department with 123 febrile children. We measured plasma hepcidin levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We further evaluated clinical characteristics and routine blood tests along with the hepcidin levels. Results: We observed significantly higher plasma hepcidin levels in bacterial enteritis (p = 0.026) and combined with urinary tract infection (p = 0.007). Furthermore, hepcidin levels had a significantly positive correlation with CRP level and length of hospital stay (R = 0.296, p = 0.001 and R = 0.213, p = 0.018). Hepcidin levels greater than 65 ng/mL also more accurately predicted bacterial infections than values below 65 ng/mL (11.7% vs. 2.1%, Odds ratio 8.4, 95% confident interval 1.7–40.9, p = 0.002). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that febrile children with bacterial infection have higher plasma hepcidin levels, and the values correlated with CRP level and length of hospital stay. Therefore, hepcidin values can potentially be adopted as a biomarker for identifying febrile children with bacterial infection, particularly bacterial enteritis and urinary tract infection. Key Words: bacterial infection, children, CRP, hepcidinhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957218300287
spellingShingle Jia-Huei Yan
Xin-Yuan Cai
Ying-Hsien Huang
The clinical value of plasma hepcidin levels in predicting bacterial infections in febrile children
Pediatrics and Neonatology
title The clinical value of plasma hepcidin levels in predicting bacterial infections in febrile children
title_full The clinical value of plasma hepcidin levels in predicting bacterial infections in febrile children
title_fullStr The clinical value of plasma hepcidin levels in predicting bacterial infections in febrile children
title_full_unstemmed The clinical value of plasma hepcidin levels in predicting bacterial infections in febrile children
title_short The clinical value of plasma hepcidin levels in predicting bacterial infections in febrile children
title_sort clinical value of plasma hepcidin levels in predicting bacterial infections in febrile children
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957218300287
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