title: Efficacy and safety of 6-month iron reduction therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron reduction therapy (IRT) has been recognized as beneficial for chronic hepatitis C patients. However, its efficacy for hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis (LC-C) has not been elucidated. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of IRT for LC-C patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two LC-C patients were treated with biweekly phlebotomy and low iron diet for 6 months, in addition to regular hepatoprotective therapy. Nineteen sex- and age-matched patients who refused to receive IRT were used as controls. The efficacy of IRT was evaluated on the basis of biochemical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 22 patients receiving IRT, 19 completed the 6-month treatment. IRT significantly reduced serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (from 89 to 57 U/L; P = 0.003), alanine aminotransferase (from 101 to 54 U/L; P < 0.001), and alpha-fetoprotein (from 28 to 12 ng/mL; P = 0.003). These changes were not observed in the controls. Two patients whose serum albumin concentrations were less than 3.6 g/dL at the beginning of IRT withdrew from IRT because of the new appearance of ascites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IRT improved the serum levels of aminotransferases and alpha-fetoprotein in LC-C patients and was generally safe; however, IRT should be performed in patients who maintain serum albumin concentrations of more than 3.6 g/dL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Showa Inan General Hospital, Komagane, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaura
authors.forename: Michiharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kendo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiyosawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000032:analysis; D004035:Diet Therapy; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018962:Phlebotomy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007501:Iron; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase