Role of hepcidin in the diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock in children

Abstract

Background/aim: The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic value of hepcidin level with the white blood cell (WBC),C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in pediatric sepsis and septic shock.Materials and methods: A cohort of 89 individuals were divided into four groups: a healthy control group (HCG, n = 28), pediatricintensive care unit control group (PICUCG, n = 17), sepsis group (SG, n = 23), and septic shock group (SSG, n = 21). WBC, CRP, PCT,IL-6, and hepcidin levels were studied in the PICUCG, SG, and SSG, while hepcidin and IL-6 levels were studied in the HCG.Results: In distinguishing the SG and SSG from the HCG, hepcidin sensitivity and specificity were found to be 100%. Distinguishingbetween the PICUCG and the SG, hepcidin sensitivity was calculated as 95.6% and specificity was calculated as 100%. The sensitivity ofWBC, CRP, and PCT was lower than that of hepcidin, but the sensitivity of IL-6 was higher than that of hepcidin. While the specificityof PCT and IL-6 was the same as hepcidin, the specificity of WBC and CRP was lower than that of hepcidin.Conclusion: Hepcidin is a more reliable indicator than WBC and CRP levels in distinguishing children with sepsis and septic shockfrom healthy children and nonseptic pediatric ICU patients.