Hepcidin and Anemia in Trauma

Anemia (decreased number of red blood cells) is common in critically ill trauma patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit and is associated with a high rate of blood transfusions. This "anemia of inflammation" is a result of three mechanisms: impaired iron regulation, shortened red blood cell life span, and reduced rate of erythropoiesis (a protein that helps make new red blood cells).

Hepcidin, a protein made in the liver, regulates iron and is decreased when iron in the blood is low. This can lead to anemia.

This research study is being conducted to learn how inflammation, hepcidin, and erythropoietin interact in critically ill patients. The findings will help in determining effective treatment for patients with anemia of inflammation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anemia

Detailed Description

Anemia is common in trauma patients and is associated with a high rate of blood transfusion. The pathophysiology of this anemia is "anemia of inflammation" and develops via 3 mechanisms: impaired iron regulation, shortened red blood cell life span, and reduced rate of erythropoiesis. Once iron enters cells (enterocytes and macrophages), the iron export protein ferroportin controls egress. Hepcidin, a peptide made in the liver, is the key regulator of iron homeostasis. Hepcidin binds to ferroportin, leading to its ultimate degradation. Hepcidin reduces iron availability via 2 mechanisms: decreased absorption of iron across the GI tract and decreased release of iron from the reticuloendothelial system. It therefore induces a functional iron deficiency by shuttling iron into the macrophages and making it unavailable for erythropoiesis. Hepcidin is decreased by iron deficiency, most anemias, and tissue hypoxia. Hepcidin is upregulated by iron excess and inflammation. Hepcidin likely plays an important role in the acute inflammatory response that occurs with trauma. However, no studies have measured hepcidin in critically ill trauma patients. If serum hepcidin levels are elevated in trauma, this will confirm that inability to use existing iron stores is part of, if not key to, the anemia of trauma and critical illness. This has important implications since the use of blood transfusion for anemia treatment may further induce an inflammatory response with resultant suppression of native erythropoiesis.

The investigators hypothesize that hepcidin will be increased and erythropoietin decreased early after trauma and that resolution of anemia will not occur until late (28-31 days). By measuring time-dependent changes in hemoglobin, hepcidin, cytokine, and erythropoietin concentrations in trauma patients, the investigators can critically examine the inter-relationships to target potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment and amelioration of anemia in trauma and critical care.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 74

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Michigan
    • Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
      • University of Michigan Health System

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Trauma patients, 18 years of age or older, admitted to a University of Michigan ICU

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Trauma patient
2. Age 18 years or older
3. Admitted to ICU
4. Anemic (Hct < 34.5%)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pre-existing hematological disorder
2. Pre-existing diagnosis of anemia or other known iron disorder
3. Chronic renal failure
4. Use of recombinant erythropoietin
5. Treatment with systemic immunosuppressant or cytotoxic drugs
6. Pregnancy
7. Patients not expected to survive

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Michigan
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lena M Napolitano, MD, University of Michigan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 17, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): April 18, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 28, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2014
• Last Verified: April 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anemia in trauma
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Hematologic Diseases; Anemia
• Other Study ID Numbers: HUM00053750