الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the WorkOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This study included 80 subjects divided into four groups :
Group I: (rheumatoid group):
Included 20 rheumatoid arthritis patients associated with anemia.
Group II: (chronic liver disease group):
Included 20 chronic liver disease patients associated with anemia .
Group III: (thalassemia group):
Included 20 patients with thalassemia.
Group IV: (control group):
Included 20 apparently healthy subjects (as control group).
All patients and controls were submitted to the following investigations:
Lab. Investigations
•Routine investigations:
1-Complete blood count (CBC) .
2-Renal function tests (blood urea, serum creatinine).
3-Liver function tests (ALT, AST, serum albumin and total protein).
4-HB Electrophoresis.
5-Serum iron and serum ferritin assay.
6-Erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR).
7-C- reactive protein.
8-Rheumatoid factor.
•Special investigations
1-Hepcidin level assay by enzyme immunoassay (EIA).
Results of different groups were compared with each other and were summarized as follows:
There were statistically significant increase in hepcidin levels in group I, II, III when compared to control group (P= 0.002, 0.001, <0.001) respectively. Also, hepcidin levels were significantly higher in group III compared to group I and II (P = <0.001, <0.001) respectively. While no significant difference was found between group I and II (P = 0.665).
There was significant strong positive correlation between hepcidin level and serum ferritin level in all patients groups (P = <0.001), and significant strong positive correlation between hepcidin level and serum iron level (P = <0.001), while there was significant negative correlation between hepcidin level and Hb level (P = <0.001).