The Relationship Between Ghrelin and Iron Metabolism in Beta Thassemia Major Patients

Abstract Studies on HIF2α, hepcidin, and ferroportin molecules in beta thalassemia majör (β-TM) patients show that there are disorders in these pathways. In recent years, studies conducted in patients with iron deficiency anemia have investigated the relationship between ghrelin hormone and iron metabolism. In this study, we aimed to contribute to the etiopathogenesis of this disease by examining the changes in ghrelin hormone levels in patients with β-TM. 52 β-TM and 23 controls were included in our study. Cell blood counts, biochemical parameters, HIF2α, hepcidin and ghrelin levels were studied from blood samples taken from the volunteers. Serum HIF2α, hepcidin and ghrelin levels were measured by ELISA method. Erythrocyte indexs, serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity and ferritin levels showed significant differences between the two groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in serum HIF2α and hepcidin levels. When the patient group and healthy controls were compared, serum ghrelin levels were found to be significantly higher in the patient group (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between serum ghrelin and ferritin levels in the patient group (r = 0.401) (p < 0.05). It suggested that high ghrelin levels may have an important role in the regulation of impaired iron metabolism in patients with β-TM. The positive correlation between serum ghrelin levels and ferritin suggested that serum iron may have an important role in ghrelin synthesis, and that increased ghrelin levels may be a factor that increases ferritin synthesis.