One of the most common extra-intestinal signs of ulcerative colitis (UC) disease is anemia, which has a considerable influence on patients’ quality of life.

The aim was to evaluate the role of serum hepcidin and reticulocyte hemoglobin concentration (CHr) in the study of anemia in UC patients.

We recruited 80 UC patients and 30 healthy individuals of matched age and sex as controls. Subjects were subdivided into three groups – Group I: 50 anemic UC patients, Group II: 30 nonanemic UC patients, and Group III: 30 healthy controls.

CHr showed a statistically highly significant decline in Group I than Groups II and III. Serum hepcidin showed a significant difference between Groups I, II, and III. Also, a significant negative correlation between CHr, serum hepcidin and severity of UC and a significant positive correlation between CHr and hemoglobin level, MCV, serum ferritin, and transferrin S. While serum hepcidin had a significant positive correlation with hemoglobin level, MCV, serum ferritin, transferrin S., and CHr.

CHr had an excellent performance in prediction of iron-restricted anemia and was the test of best performance in prediction of iron-deficiency anemia ± ACD. Serum hepcidin had an excellent performance in prediction of ACD.