Endometriosis and Serum Hepcidin Levels

Manolov V, Marinov B, Vasilev V, Tzatchev K, Hadjiev E, Bogov I, Hadjidekova S, Genchev G, Emilova R

Abstract: Aim Endometriosis is a benign disease which takes third place in gynecological morbidity after inflammatory disease and uterine myoma. We tried to evaluate serum iron and hepcidin levels and search for a connection in occurrence of endometriosis. Data For serum hepcidin quantification we used ELISA assay.40 women, average age 25.4 4.3 were included. They were divided into two groups women with endometriosis (EM) and control group. The samples were taken in the University Hospital Michin Dom for a period of one year, 2014. We measure serum iron levels, ferritin and calculate transferrin saturation. Pearsons coefficient and Students t-test were used for evaluation of correlation and statistical significance. Results We found statistically significant differences in serum hepcidin levels between measured groups women with endometriosis had higher concentrations 57.4 8.5 g/L vs control group 20.7 2.8 g/L (r = -0.174, P < 0.001). Serum ferritin levels showed significant differences between two groups EM 18.3 9.6 ng/mL vs control 68.99 16.1 ng/mL (r = -0.203, P < 0.001). Serum iron levels were statistically different for EM 48.9 4.9 mol/L compared to 11.6 1.7 mol/L in control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions We conclude that our results support the thesis that iron overload and elevated serum hepcidin levels takes an important role into pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Keywords: endometriosis, hepcidin, iron overload, ferritin, inflammation