Yazan Hasan1, Kyle Brown2. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States; Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, United States; Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States. Electronic address: kyle-brown@uiowa.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Abnormal serum iron studies are seen in a third or more of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV), where they have been linked to accelerated fibrosis progression and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and sometimes lead to concern for coexisting hereditary hemochromatosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of HCV eradication in patients with abnormal serum iron studies prior to treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). PATIENTS: HCV-infected subjects with iron studies obtained before and after successful treatment with DAAs were identified (n=27). All had one or more abnormal iron test before treatment. RESULTS: Following HCV eradication, serum iron, transferrin-iron saturation and ferritin levels decreased significantly (pre- versus post-treatment, p<0.01 for each). Serum iron and/or transferrin-iron saturations normalized in 16/19 subjects and raised ferritin levels returned to the normal range in 14/18 subjects, including several with pretreatment transferrin-iron saturation >90% and/or serum ferritin >1000ng/mL. Elimination of HCV infection was associated with a significant reduction in post-treatment ferritin levels even among subjects whose ferritin levels were within normal limits at baseline. Risk factors for other conditions associated with abnormal iron status were present in the few cases in which iron studies failed to normalize following DAA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Eradication of HCV infection restores normal iron status in most patients with abnormal iron tests, including those whose baseline parameters are suggestive of hemochromatosis.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Abnormal serum iron studies are seen in a third or more of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV), where they have been linked to accelerated fibrosis progression and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and sometimes lead to concern for coexisting hereditary hemochromatosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of HCV eradication in patients with abnormal serum iron studies prior to treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). PATIENTS: HCV-infected subjects with iron studies obtained before and after successful treatment with DAAs were identified (n=27). All had one or more abnormal iron test before treatment. RESULTS: Following HCV eradication, serum iron, transferrin-iron saturation and ferritin levels decreased significantly (pre- versus post-treatment, p<0.01 for each). Serum iron and/or transferrin-iron saturations normalized in 16/19 subjects and raised ferritin levels returned to the normal range in 14/18 subjects, including several with pretreatment transferrin-iron saturation >90% and/or serum ferritin >1000ng/mL. Elimination of HCV infection was associated with a significant reduction in post-treatment ferritin levels even among subjects whose ferritin levels were within normal limits at baseline. Risk factors for other conditions associated with abnormal iron status were present in the few cases in which iron studies failed to normalize following DAA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Eradication of HCV infection restores normal iron status in most patients with abnormal iron tests, including those whose baseline parameters are suggestive of hemochromatosis.
Authors: Eleanor Barnes; Michael Pavlides; Arjun N A Jayaswal; Christina Levick; Jane Collier; Elizabeth M Tunnicliffe; Matthew D Kelly; Stefan Neubauer Journal: Abdom Radiol (NY) Date: 2020-11-28
Authors: Reham M Dawood; Mai Abd El Meguid; Walied Elrobe; Ghada M Salum; Naglaa Zayed; Sherief Mousa; Eman Medhat Journal: Asian Pac J Cancer Prev Date: 2021-09-01