Hepcidin and Ferritin Levels in Fever of Unknown Origin: Is There a New Biomarker?
  • Ana Lopez Aparicio
    Servicio Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
  • Alejandro García-Espona-Pancorbo
    Servicio Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
  • Marta Clavero-Olmos
    Servicio Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
  • Inmaculada Muñoz-Roldán
    Servicio Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
  • Alejandro del Castillo-Rueda
    Unidad de Ferropatología y Radicalosis, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.

Keywords

Still disease, hyperferritinemia, hepcidin

Abstract

Background and objectives: Significantly elevated serum ferritin levels are associated with both iron overload and some inflammatory conditions. Hepcidin is a protein that interferes with iron absorption in inflammatory states and acts as an acute-phase reactant.

Materials and methods: Here we report the case a 33-year-old patient who presented with high fever, skin lesions and arthralgia lasting for 2 weeks. His ferritin level was 13,800 µg/l and his hepcidin level was 61 ng/dl.

Results: The final diagnosis was adult onset Still's disease. The condition evolved satisfactorily with steroid treatment, but after several weeks the patient presented with an unexpected recurrence.

Conclusions: Hepcidin is a good inflammatory marker that could be useful in the differential diagnosis of hyperferritinaemia.

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References

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    Published: 2015-09-21
    Issue: Vol. 2 No. 6 (2015) (view)


    How to cite:
    1.
    Lopez Aparicio A, García-Espona-Pancorbo A, Clavero-Olmos M, Muñoz-Roldán I, del Castillo-Rueda A. Hepcidin and Ferritin Levels in Fever of Unknown Origin: Is There a New Biomarker?. EJCRIM 2015;2 doi:10.12890/2015_000240.