Prohepcidin and hepcidin in acute phase reaction accompanying large cardiac surgery

Abstract

The clinical study demonstrated plasma hepcidin as a positive acute-phase reactant in relation to an uncomplicated large cardiac surgery. Hepcidin increase was related to IL-6 concentrations and to duration of surgical procedure.

The clinical findings are in conformity with recent experimental studies defining hepcidin as a type II acute-phase protein.

Keywords

• cytokines
• hepcidin
• cardiac surgery
• acute phase reaction