Hepatic iron concentration does not predict response to standard and pegylated-IFN/ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
Iron overload is common among patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In this study the role of hepatic iron concentration (HIC) and serum iron parameters was assessed to determine response to standard and pegylated interferon (IFN)/ribavirin combination therapy in patients with CHC.


METHODS
Liver biopsies were obtained from 169 IFN-naïve patients (m=115, f=54, age: 40.8+/-10.7) with CHC. 140 patients were treated with standard IFN/ribavirin, 29 patients with pegylated-IFN/ribavirin. Biopsy specimens were evaluated according to the DiBisceglie scoring system and iron grading. HIC was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Ferritin and transferrin saturation and presence of HFE-C282Y and H63D gene mutations were determined at baseline.


RESULTS
Nonresponders to combination therapy had higher serum ferritin levels at baseline (p<0.01). There was no difference of HIC, transferrin saturation levels, and the HFE-mutation status between responders and nonresponders. Logistic regression analysis revealed serum ferritin as an independent predictor of response. HIC correlated with the DiBisceglie score (r=0.352, p<0.001), iron grading (r=0.352, p<0.001) and serum ferritin (r=0.335, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Pretreatment liver iron concentration does not predict response to combination therapy in patients with CHC. In contrast, high baseline serum ferritin levels are predictors of poor response to antiviral therapy.
Hofer
Harald
H
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerguertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Osterreicher
Christoph
C
Jessner
Wolfgang
W
Penz
Melitta
M
Steindl-Munda
Petra
P
Wrba
Friedrich
F
Ferenci
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin; D005293:Ferritins; D007372:Interferons; D007501:Iron