[Association of hepatic iron deposition and serum iron indices with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis stage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease].
OBJECTIVE
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis can develop from nonalcoholic fatty liver and progress to severe liver disease such as cirrhosis. The mechanism determining the progression from fatty liver to steatohepatitis is unknown. Iron is suspected to enhance hepatic damage associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aims of this study were to evaluate the relationship of serum iron indices and hepatic iron deposition with hepatic fibrosis or inflammation, and to assess whether the increased hepatic iron deposition is an independent predictor of progression to liver injury.


METHODS
The biochemical and histopathological data of thirty-nine patients with NAFLD were analyzed. Liver biopsy findings were graded according to the method described by Brunt, et al. Hepatic iron concentration was available in 29 of 39 patients.


RESULTS
The mean hepatic iron concentration and hepatic iron indices were 1,349+/-1,188 microg/g dry weight and 0.9+/-0.7 microg/g/age. Serum ferritin and body mass indices were associated with hepatic inflammation (p=0.001, p=0.006) and fibrosis (p=0.005, p=0.013). Hepatic iron concentration and hepatic iron index were not associated with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Multivariate analysis did not identify serum ferritin or body mass index as an independent predictor of liver injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic iron deposition shows no association with the degree of hepatic inflammation or fibrosis. Hepatic iron is not an independent predictor of hepatic injury in patients with NAFLD.
Moon
Joon Ho
JH
Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
Park
Sang Hoon
SH
Oh
Kil Chan
KC
Jung
Jae One
JO
Shin
Woon Geon
WG
Kim
Jong Pyo
JP
Kim
Kyoung Oh
KO
Park
Cheol Hee
CH
Hahn
Taeho
T
Yoo
Kyo-Sang
KS
Kim
Jong Hyeok
JH
Kim
Dong Jun
DJ
Lee
Myung Seok
MS
Park
Choong Kee
CK
Jun
Sun-Young
SY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron