Iron-related indexes in chronic alcoholics. Effect of alcohol withdrawal.
BACKGROUND
Increased serum transferrin saturation and ferritin levels have been reported in chronic alcoholics.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate modifications in serum iron-related indexes in chronic alcohol abusers with and without cirrhosis, at enrolment and after complete alcohol withdrawal.


METHODS
Fifty-one consecutive chronic alcohol abusers, 33 without and 18 with cirrhosis.


METHODS
Liver function tests were performed and transferrin saturation percent and serum ferritin levels measured at time 0 and after 7 and 14 days of complete alcohol withdrawal.


RESULTS
Duration of alcohol abuse was significantly longer in patients with cirrhosis than in those without (24 +/- 13 SD vs 18 +/- 13 SD years, p < 0.01). A concomitant increase in transferrin saturation percent and serum ferritin was found in 60% of the cirrhotics and 45% of the non cirrhotic group. During the observation period, transferrin saturation percent and serum ferritin fell significantly in both groups (from 59 +/- 33 SD to 36 +/- 22% SD, p < 0.05, and from 900 +/- 933 SD to 469 +/- 457 SD ng/ml, p < 0.01, in cirrhotics, and from 46 +/- 30 SD to 27 +/- 12% SD, p < 0.01, and from 702 +/- 602 SD to 340 +/- 29 SD ng/ml, p < 0.01, in non cirrhotics).


CONCLUSIONS
Iron-related indexes increase with chronic alcohol abuse and return to normal rapidly after complete alcohol withdrawal. In chronic alcoholics the timing of determinations of iron-related indexes is crucial, and screening for possible concomitant genetic haemochromatosis must be postponed.
Conte
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Chair of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Maggiore Hospital, Milan, Italy. gastrbia@imiucca.csi.unimi.it
Corsetti
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Colli
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Bardella
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Cocciolo
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Fraquelli
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron; D000637:Transaminases