title: Alterations of soluble transferrin receptor level in children with chronic hepatitis C during treatment with recombinant interferon-alpha and ribavirin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  : Hepatic iron stores in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) may accelerate the progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Detection of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) allows for quantitative evaluation of intracellular iron stores, especially under circumstances of chronic inflammatory state, as CHC.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  : The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of sTfR as an indicator of intracellular iron stores in relation to serum iron management parameters in children with CHC and potential influence of treatment with IFN-alpha and ribavirin.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Fifteen children with diagnosed CHC were enrolled into the study, age range 6-17.5 years (mean 11.17+/-3.86 years), 11 boys and 4 girls. Children were treated with IFN-alpha (3MU/M(2) s.c. three times a week) and ribavirin (15mg/kg p.o. daily) for 12 months. sTfR level was detected by latex test N Latex sTfR (DADE Behring).
  
  
  RESULTS
  : Observation after 16 weeks of the treatment revealed significant increase of sTfR level (sTfRI=1.27mg/dl versus sTfRII=1.57mg/dl; p=0.002) and serum Tf (TfI=190.98+/-61.23mg/dl versus TfII=232.53+/-53.64mg/dl; p=0.019) with the decline in serum iron (Iron I=138.72+/-65.91 versus Iron II=104.98+/-22.12; p=0.049) and ferritin (Ferritin I=240.35+/-125.43mg/dl versus Ferritin II=145.65+/-78.87mg/dl; p=0.022). Patients with viral response to treatment developed higher, although not significant, sTfRII levels than nonresponders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : Combined therapy with IFN-alpha and ribavirin causes an increase in sTfR level with decline in serum iron and ferritin, revealing intracellular reduction of iron stores depending on the result of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, III Chair of Pediatrics, University of Medical Sciences, ul. Szpitalna 27/33, 60-572 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mozer-Lisewska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mania
authors.forename: Arleta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kowala-Piaskowska
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Figlerowicz
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Słuzewski