Key Points• Lexaptepid modulates the inflammation-induced decrease in serum iron during experimental human endotoxemia.• Hepcidin targeting with the novel compound lexaptepid may be a viable approach to the treatment of anemia of inflammation in humans.Increased hepcidin production is key to the development of anemia of inflammation. We investigated whether lexaptepid, an antihepcidin L-oligoribonucleotide, prevents the decrease in serum iron during experimental human endotoxemia. This randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 24 healthy males. At T 5 0 hours, 2 ng/kg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide was intravenously administered, followed by an intravenous injection of 1.2 mg/kg lexaptepid or placebo at T 5 0.5 hours. The lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response was similar in subjects treated with lexaptepid or placebo regarding clinical and biochemical parameters. At T 5 9 hours, serum iron had increased by 15.9 6 9.8 mmol/L from baseline in lexaptepidtreated subjects compared with a decrease of 8.3 6 9.0 mmol/L in controls (P < .0001). This study delivers proof of concept that lexaptepid achieves clinically relevant hepcidin inhibition enabling investigations in the treatment of anemia of inflammation. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrial.gov as #NCT01522794. (Blood. 2014;124(17):2643-2646

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Tactile stimulation of a coin-sized area in a T-2 dermatome consistently triggered a lancinating pain in the ipsilateral C-8 dermatome in a 38-year-old woman. The SEP and an MRI led to a diagnosis of a tumor at the left cervico-medullary junction, much higher than the clinically suspected level. Surgical exploration revealed an exophytic glioma, and the pain was abolished postoperatively. Ephaptic transmission at the tumor site was suspected as a pathophysiologic mechanism.