Serum hepcidin levels in Bulgarian population.

BACKGROUND: Hepcidin is a 25-aminoacid cysteine-rich iron regulating peptide. Hepcidin quantification in human serum provides new insights for the pathogenesis of disorders of iron homeostasis. This study describes an ELISA immunoassay for hepcidin quantification in human serum and reference ranges for Bulgarian population. METHODS: We used a sandwich ELISA method from USCN Life Science inc. that consists of ready to use, pre-coated 96-well strip plate with 2 antihepcidin-25 monoclonal antibodies. A recombinant Hepcidin in 16 µg/L concentration is used as a standard. We correlated ELISA results of hepcidin-25 measurements in healthy population to ferritin, hemoglobin concentration in reticulocytes, transferrin, and iron levels. RESULTS: The sandwich ELISA was highly specific for hepcidin-25. We found that serum hepcidin levels for Bulgarian population are 3.052 µg/L - 37.750 µg/L, which is quite similar to that established by WCX-TOF MS from the Laboratory of Genetic, Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases; Dept. of Laboratory Medicine, Radbound University Medical Centre; Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Ferritin levels and hemoglobin concentration in reticulocytes correlated significantly to serum hepcidin levels (0.3 < r < 0.5, p < 0.010). Transferrin levels showed negative and no significant correlation to hepcidin in serum (r = -0.111). CONCLUSIONS: The use of two monoclonal antibodies in a sandwich ELISA format provides a reliable, reproducible, and not very expensive method for measuring serum concentrations of the bioactive form of hepcidin in Bulgarian laboratory practice.

Significance of molecular-cytogenetic aberrations for the achievement of first remission in de novo acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: The majority of adults diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) display acquired cytogenetic aberrations at presentation. In this article, we present the major cytogenetic findings regarding AML and review their clinical significance for achievement of the first complete remission. METHODS: We studied 71 adult patients with de novo AML, without previous myelodysplasia or alkylating therapy. Conventional cytogenetics and FISH were performed on bone marrow cells. The patients with AML were assigned to 12 subgroups according to established data for cytogenetic, molecular and general laboratory results. The selection of the analyzed parameters is consistent with internationally accepted "prognostic factors" in adult AML. RESULTS: Complete remission upon induction therapy was achieved in 40% of cases (in a mean period of 2.3 months from therapy initiation). The patients with t(15;17) PML-RARA and inv(16)/CBFbeta-MYH11ë demonstrated the highest frequency of complete remission. Patients with hypodiploidy, t(9;22)/bcr-abl and complex karyotypes were therapy-resistant or died within the first three months after AML diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Molecular-cytogenetic findings have an important significance for achievement of first complete remission. However, laboratory and biologic features (age, WBC and LDH) and type of AML have a large influence on the disease outcome.