Influence of iron on the severity of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association among hepatic fibrosis, serum iron indices, and hepatic iron stores in patients with Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC).


METHODS
Thirty-two CHC patients were included in our study. The histological degree of fibrosis and inflammation activity was assessed according to the Metavir system. The serum iron indices including ferritin, iron and transferrin saturation were measured. Hepatic iron deposition was graded by Perls' stain.


RESULTS
The CHC patients with severe hepatic fibrosis (n = 16) were significantly older than CHC patients with mild fibrosis (n = 16) (P = 0.024). The serum iron indices, increased serum iron store and positive hepatic iron stain were not significantly different between the two groups. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the age at biopsy was an independent predictor of severe hepatic fibrosis (Odds ratio = 1.312; P = 0.035). The positive hepatic iron stain was significantly associated with the values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P = 0.017), ferritin (P = 0.008), serum iron (P = 0.019) and transferrin saturation (P = 0.003). The ferritin level showed significant correlation with the value of ALT (r = 0.531; P = 0.003), iron (r = 0.467; P = 0.011) and transferrin saturation (r = 0.556; P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the severity of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver injury is associated with patient age at biopsy. Both serum iron indices and hepatic iron deposition show correlation with serum indices of chronic liver disease but are not related to grade and stage of liver histology.
Lin
Tsung-Jung
TJ
Department of Gastroenterology, Ren-Ai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Da-an District Taipei City 106, Taiwan, China.
Liao
Li-Ying
LY
Lin
Shyr-Yi
SY
Lin
Chih-Lin
CL
Chang
Ting-An
TA
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000378:metabolism; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007501:Iron