title: [Association of hepatic iron deposition and serum iron indices with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis stage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kil Chan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jae One
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Woon Geon
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jong Pyo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoung Oh
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Cheol Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Taeho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Kyo-Sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jong Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myung Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Choong Kee
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jun
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron