Yilmaz, HakkiCakmak, MuzafferDarcin, TahirInan, OsmanBilgic, Mukadder AyseBavbek, NuketAkcay, Ali2025-10-242025-10-2420160971-45020974-0449https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-015-0551-0https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12899/3352Functional iron deficiency (FID) incidence is gradually increasing in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Recently, high levels of GDF-15 supressed the iron regulatory protein hepcidin and GDF-15 expression increased in iron-deficient patients. The relationship between FID, GDF-15, and hepcidin is currently unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between GDF-15, hepcidin, and FID in chronic HD patients. Serum GDF-15 and hepcidin concentrations were measured in 105 HD patients and 40 controls. FID is defined as serum ferritin > 800 ng/mL, TSAT < 25 %, Hb levels < 11 g/dL, and reticulocyte haemoglobin content (CHr) < 29 pg. Serum GDF-15 and hepcidin levels were increased significantly in HD patients with FID, compared to HD patients without anemia and controls. GDF-15 correlated with ferritin, hepcidin, and CRP in the entire cohort. GDF-15 was related to ferritin and CRP in HD patients with FID. GDF-15 is better diagnostic marker than hepcidin for detection of FID [AUC = 0.982 (0.013) versus AUC = 0.921 (0.027); P = 0.0324]. GDF-15 appears to be a promising tool for detection of FID. High levels of ferritin and CRP correlated with GDF-15. Our results support GDF-15 as a new mediator of FID via hepcidin, chronic inflammation, or unknown pathways.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessAnemia; GDF-15; Iron; InflammationArticle10.1007/s12288-015-0551-0322221227270655872-s2.0-84961169968Q3WOS:000372248600017Q4