Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
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An iron regulatory peptide hormone, hepcidin, is also part of the innate immune system and is strongly induced during infections and inflammation. The aim of the present study was to determine serum levels of the 60 aa pro-hormone form of hepcidin (pro-hepcidin) in full-term and preterm newborns with sepsis and to determine the possible relationships between pro-hepcidin levels and serum iron and complete blood count parameters. ⋯ Serum pro-hepcidin levels were higher in newborns with sepsis (either premature or full-term) than they were in healthy newborns at the time of clinical diagnosis.