Increased serum ferritin is common in men with essential hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
Insulin-resistance-associated hepatic iron overload syndrome (IRHIO) is characterized by high serum ferritin and presence of metabolic alterations that are part of insulin-resistance syndrome (IRS). Thus, clinical conditions characterized by a high prevalence of IRS may also be characterized by a high prevalence of IRHIO.


METHODS
We studied 88 consecutive patients with essential hypertension, 62 patients with IRHIO and 102 healthy normotensive controls. Hemochromatosis, other conditions able to induce secondary iron overload or serum ferritin increase unrelated to body iron stores were excluded. Iron indices, metabolic profiles and hepatic tests in hypertensive with or without increased serum ferritin and in IRHIO with and without hypertension were studied. Metabolic variables, serum iron indices, liver function tests and hepatic ultrasound data were analysed. Data were compared by non-parametric tests.


RESULTS
In men with hypertension, increased serum ferritin was more frequent than in controls (21 versus 0%, P = 0.001). Hypertensive men with increased serum ferritin had more frequent and pronounced metabolic alterations than those with normal serum ferritin, the metabolic abnormalities and serum ferritin being frequently positively correlated. In hypertensive men with increased serum ferritin, metabolic and iron data were similar to those of IRHIO patients with hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
In males, hypertension is characterized by a higher prevalence of increased iron stores and metabolic abnormalities that are part of the IRHIO syndrome. This finding may have clinical implications due to the increased risk of IRHIO patients to develop hepatic cirrhosis and also for the role of iron in early atherogenesis.
Piperno
Alberto
A
Clinica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Gerardo, Università Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy. Alberto.Piperno@unimi.it
Trombini
Paola
P
Gelosa
Marisa
M
Mauri
Viviana
V
Pecci
Valeria
V
Vergani
Anna
A
Salvioni
Alessandra
A
Mariani
Raffaella
R
Mancia
Giuseppe
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D005293:Ferritins