Inflammatory diseases may lead to chronic anemia

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Inflammatory diseases may lead to chronic anemia: Study

Washington | May 05, 2004 10:34:23 AM IST

Researchers at the University of California and Los Angeles have found that

a protein in the immune system is responsible for stimulating a chain

reaction which may lead to chronic anemia in many patients with infections

and major inflammatory diseases.

The study may help target new interventions to help prevent anemia

in-patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, which

affect millions worldwide.

Interleukin 6 - a protein that is part of the immune system is the signal

that sets off a chain reaction during an infection or inflammatory state. It

stimulates an increase in the hormone Hepcidin, which in turn lowers the

amount of iron in the bloodstream.

" We knew previously that the iron level in the blood drops during an

infection or inflammatory state, but didn't know the molecular mechanism

that sparks this response. For the first time, we now can show the complete

biological sequence of events leading to anemia in specific inflammatory

diseases and infections, " said Tomas Ganz, Ph.D., M.D., principal

investigator and professor of medicine and pathology at the Geffen

School of Medicine at UCLA.

The amount of iron is lowered during early infection. However, some

inflammatory diseases ignite this reaction, even when no true infection is

present, which can lead to chronic low iron, and inadequate iron supply for

red blood cell production. Severe anemia caused by inflammatory diseases can

lead to weakness and other symptoms, requiring blood transfusions or

treatments that stimulate red cell production.

Infections and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and

inflammatory bowel disease are the second leading cause of anemia worldwide.

Children with rheumatoid arthritis are especially susceptible to severe

anemia.

" Since we now better understand the early events leading to chronic anemia

in specific inflammatory diseases, we may be able to block responses so

patients can use more iron for red blood cell production, " said Ganz.

According to Ganz, researchers also found that when humans or mice were

given iron, the hormone Hepcidin increased, demonstrating that this hormone

responds not only to inflammation but also to dietary iron. Earlier studies

show that Hepcidin regulates how much iron is taken up from food and how it

is distributed in the body. (ANI)