The effect of iron depletion on chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Increasing evidence exists that iron overload, a common finding in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of this disease. The mechanisms by which iron excess induces liver damage along with the benefit of iron depletion via phlebotomy on biochemical and histological outcomes in patients with chronic HCV infection have been discussed in this review. Finally, we focus on the effect of iron reduction on the rate of response to interferon antiviral therapy.
Franchini
Massimo
M
Servizio di Immunoematologia e Trasfusione, Centro Emofilia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico, Piazzale Ludovico Scuro, Verona, 37134, Italy, mfranchini@univr.it.
Targher
Giovanni
G
Capra
Franco
F
Montagnana
Martina
M
Lippi
Giuseppe
G