Non-transferrin-bound iron in untreated and ribavirin-treated chronic hepatitis C patients.
BACKGROUND
In patients with chronic hepatitis C, elevations in serum iron levels, hepatic iron content and oxidative stress-related molecules have been reported. Treatment with ribavirin induces an increase in hepatic iron concentration. In situations of iron overload, non-transferrin-bound iron can appear. Therefore, we determined non-transferrin-bound iron levels in untreated chronic hepatitis C patients and in patients during interferon-ribavirin treatment.


METHODS
In 10 untreated and 19 interferon-ribavirin-treated chronic hepatitis C patients, we examined non-transferrin-bound iron levels by a colorimetric method using nitrilotriacetic acid as a ligand and sodium triscarbonatecobalt (III) to block free iron binding sites on transferrin.


RESULTS
Despite the presence of high serum iron saturation and ferritin levels, non-transferrin-bound iron was absent in the majority of hepatitis C virus patients (25/29, 86%). There was no difference in non-transferrin-bound iron levels between untreated and treated patients. Four patients with high non-transferrin-bound iron levels were distinguished by higher serum iron levels. In two of these patients, hepatocytic iron was present on liver biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
In the majority of chronic hepatitis C patients, non-transferrin-bound iron levels are normal. Treatment with ribavirin does not induce high non-transferrin-bound iron levels. Non-transferrin-bound iron levels are only higher than normal in hepatitis C patients with higher serum iron levels.
Departments of Gastroenterology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. hans.vanvlierberghe@rug.ac.be
H
H
Van Vlierberghe
H
H
Verdievel
I
I
Colle
J
J
Delanghe
M
M
Praet
D
D
Bernard
G
G
Leroux-Roels
M
M
De Vos
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; C103673:HFE protein, human; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014168:Transferrin; D012254:Ribavirin; D007501:Iron