Synergic effect of chronic hepatitis C infection and beta thalassemia major with marked hepatic iron overload on liver fibrosis: a retrospective cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
Increased hepatic iron is assumed to potentiate progression towards liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In this study we have evaluated the potentiating effect of marked hepatic iron overload and chronic HCV infection on hepatic fibrosis in thalassemic patients.


METHODS
Liver biopsies of one group of patients with beta thalassemia major and chronic HCV infection (group 1) was compared with two groups of patients (groups 2&3) with either chronic HCV infection or thalassemia major, respectively (20 patients in each group). Necroinflammation, fibrosis, and iron overload were graded and compared.


RESULTS
Stage of fibrosis in group 1 patients was significantly higher than the other two groups (p < 0.05). Necroinflammatory grade was significantly lower, but iron score was significantly higher in thalassemic patients (group 3) in comparison to groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that marked liver iron overload and HCV infection in thalassemic patients have potentiating effect on hepatic fibrogenesis.
Department of Pathology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. azmoudeh@sina.tums.ac.ir
Farid Azmoudeh
FA
Ardalan
Mohammad R F
MR
Osquei
Mohsen N
MN
Toosi
Guiti
G
Irvanloo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000209:etiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*