Effects of placebo or lexaptepid treatment on inflammatory-mediated hepcidin induction and systemic iron homeostasis. With placebo, acute or chronic inflammations as well as neoplastic disease cause an induction of cytokines. Cytokines, in turn, induce the expression of the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin. Hepcidin degrades the iron-export channel ferroportin, so that hypoferremia develops. Erythropoiesis and hemoglobin levels decrease. Anemia of inflammation ensues. Patients treated with lexaptepid show the same induction of cytokines. Hepcidin is induced but bound by lexaptepid. The hepcidin-lexaptepid complex is biologically inactive and prevents hypoferremia. Therefore, lexaptepid might be a possible treatment of anemia of inflammation. The effects on erythropoiesis and hemoglobin levels have yet to be determined in clinical trials. TSAT, transferrin saturation. Professional illustration by XavierStudio.