Abstract
In a population of 157 (120 males, 37 females) predominantly British alcoholics with liver disease, the incidence of some degree of hepatic siderosis, as estimated by stainable parenchymal iron, was 57.3%. The incidence of significant siderosis (grades III and IV) was 7%, and was similar for both sexes. In the female alcoholics there was a significant correlation between age and the degree of siderosis (P<0.05)-four of the five females with significant siderosis being premenopausal. In the male alcoholics there was a significant inverse relationship between the grams of ethanol consumed per day and the degree of siderosis (P<0.05) and a significant correlation between the percentage saturation of iron-binding protein and the degree of siderosis (P<0.05). The mean daily iron intake from alcoholic beverages was 1.5 mg; there was no relationship between the amount of iron ingested in the alcohol and the degree of siderosis. In this population of alcoholics the incidence of significant siderosis in both sexes was low.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bell ET: Relation of portal cirrhosis to haemochromatosis and to diabetes mellitus. Diabetes 4:435–446, 1955
Finch CS, Finch CA: Idiopathic haemochromatosis: An iron-storage disease. Medicine 34:381–430, 1955
MacDonald RA: Idiopathic haemochromatosis: Genetic or acquired? Ann Intern Med 112:184–193, 1963
Powell LW: Changing concepts in haemochromatosis. Postgrad Med J 46:200–209, 1970
Charlton RW, Jacobs P, Seftel H, Bothwell TH: Effect of alcohol on iron absorption. Br Med J 2:1427–1429, 1964
Perman G: Haemochromatosis and red wine. Acta Med Scand 182:281–284, 1967
Gilbert A, Gernet A: Cirrhose alcoolique hypertrophique pigmentaire. CR Acad Sci (Paris) 3:1078–1081, 1896
Lereboullet J, Levillain R, Debesse B: L'hepatosiderose. Sa frequence chez les alcooliques, etudes statistique de 350 examens anatomique. Bull Mem Soc Med Hop Paris 72:684–689, 1956
André J: Le demembrement des hemachromatosis. Rev Int Hepatol 11:113–174, 1961
Barry M: Iron and chronic liver disease. J R Coll Physicians London 8:52–62, 1973
Paul AA, Southgate DAT (eds) McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 4th ed. London, HMSO, 1978
International Committee for Standardination in Haematology Proposed recommendations for measurement of serum iron in human blood. J Clin Pathol 24:334–335, 1971
Cook JD: An evaluation of adsorption methods for measurement of plasma iron-binding capacity. J Lab Clin Med 76:497–506, 1970
Scheuer PJ, Williams R, Muir AR: Hepatic pathology in relatives of patients with idiopathic haemochromatosis. J Pathol Bateriol 84:53–64, 1962
Weinfeld A, Lundin P, Lundvall O: Significance for the diagnosis of iron overload of histochemical and chemical iron in the livers of control subjects. J Clin Pathol 21:35–40, 1968
Edwards CQ, Carroll M, Bray P, Cartwright GE: Hereditary haemochromatosis. Diagnosis in siblings and children. N Engl J Med 297:7–13, 1977
Pechet GS, French SW, Levy J, MacDonald RA: Histologic and chemical tissue iron. Arch Pathol 79:452–461, 1965
Lundvall O, Weinfeld A, Lundin P: Iron stores in alcohol abusers 1. Liver iron. Acta Med Scand 185:259–269, 1969
Barry M: Iron and the liver. Gut 15:324–334, 1974
Lundvall O, Weinfeld A: Iron stores in alcohol abusers 11. As measured with the desferrioxamine test. Acta Med Scand 185:271–277, 1969
Miralles Garcia JM, de Castro del Pozo S: Iron deposits in chronic alcoholics. Special studies in relation to the iron contained in red wine. Acta Hepatogastroenterol 23:10–19, 1976
Powell LW: Normal human iron storage and its relation to ethanol consumption. Australas Ann Med 15:110–115, 1966
Burton JL: Effect of oral contraceptives on haemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum iron and total iron-binding capacity in healthy women. Lancet 1:978–980, 1967
Beamish MR, Walker R, Miller F, Worwood M, Jacobs A, Williams R, Corrigall A: Transferrin iron, chelatable iron and ferritin in idiopathic haemochromatosis. Br J Haematol 27:219–228, 1974
Simon M, Barrel M, Fauchet R, Genetet B: Association of HLA-A3 and HLA-B14 antigens with idiopathic haemochromatosis. Gut 17:332–334, 1976
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jakobovits, A.W., Morgan, M.Y. & Sherlock, S. Hepatic siderosis in alcoholics. Digest Dis Sci 24, 305–310 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296545
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01296545