Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High blood hepcidin levels in dogs with portosystemic shunt
By Vizi, Zsuzsanna et al.·Published in Research in veterinary science·2025·University of Veterinary Medicine - Budapest·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Elevated levels of serum hepcidin isomers in dogs with portosystemic shunt.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with portosystemic shunt (a condition where blood bypasses the liver) showed higher levels of certain proteins called hepcidin isomers, which are involved in iron regulation. These dogs also had low iron levels and microcytosis, a condition where red blood cells are smaller than normal. The study found that as the hepcidin levels increased, the iron levels decreased, suggesting that hepcidin may contribute to the anemia seen in these dogs. While this research points to hepcidin as a potential marker for diagnosing anemia related to portosystemic shunt, more studies are needed to confirm these findings.
People also search for: dog portosystemic shunt symptoms · dog anemia treatment · elevated hepcidin in dogs
Abstract
Microcytosis and iron sequestration are commonly observed abnormalities in dogs with portosystemic shunt (PSS). The role of hepcidin - the main hormone regulating iron homeostasis - in this condition is still unclear. Our study is intended to determine the serum concentrations of known hepcidin isomers in canine patients with portosystemic shunt, compared to a healthy control group. Routine haematological and biochemical examinations were performed for 10 dogs diagnosed with PSS and for 18 healthy controls. And the serum concentrations of hepcidin-α and hepcidin-β isomers were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) method. In this study, both serum hepcidin isomer concentrations were significantly (p < 0,05) higher in the PSS group compared to healthy dogs (hepcidin-α: 46.1 vs. 23.1 ng·mL, p = 0.014, hepcidin-β: 76.6 vs 48.4 ng·mL, p = 0.027). In dogs with PSS, there was a significant negative correlation between iron and hepcidin isomer concentrations (hepcidin-α: rho: -0.81, p = 0.007, hepcidin-β rho: -0.84, p = 0.0004). Our results suggest that elevated serum hepcidin concentration plays an important role in the development of microcytosis and iron sequestration observed in patients with PSS; however, further studies needed in large cohort of patients. Serum hepcidin could be used as a potential biomarker in patients with PSS-associated anaemia.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40850004/