Analysis of hyperferritinemia in very low birth weight infants

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K19688
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Fujiyoshi Junko 九州大学, 大学病院, 助教 (20467921)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 鉄過剰 / 極低出生体重児 / 早産児

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The substantial risk of iron overload is not routinely monitored in most of the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Japan; however, blood transfusion is an essential strategy for successfully treating preterm low-birth-weight infants.The aim of this study was to investigate the iron status and clinical features of very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs). This prospective observational study enrolled 176 patients from a total of 213 VLBWIs admitted to our NICU from 2009 to 2014. Twenty-four infants displayed hyperferritinemia. A multiple logistic analysis selected 3 associated factors of hyperferritinemia: surgical ligation for patent ductus arteriosus, sepsis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Additionally,the initial interaction between ERFE and hepcidin in VLBWIs may be insufficient due to prematurity.The physiological function of iron regulators may possibly be observable only after stabilization and gradual maturation of organ systems towards the end of the postnatal period.

Free Research Field

新生児医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

新生児医療で輸血療法は不可避であるため、輸血後鉄過剰症の危険因子を明らにする必要がある。本研究により極低出生体重児の高フェリチン血症には動脈管結紮術、敗血症、および気管支肺異形成が関連していることが示唆された。また出生後に鉄制御機構が変化していくことも示唆された。この結果を踏まえ、鉄キレートや抗酸化療法といった重症化抑止といったさらなる臨床研究に結び付けることができる。将来的には、早産・極低出生体重児の予後改善となる新たな治療戦略へと展開できるかもしれない。