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Increased serum iron and iron saturation without liver iron accumulation distinguish chronic hepatitis C from other chronic liver diseases

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 39, pages 2656–2659 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

One hundred twenty-three patients with chronic liver diseases of various etiologies were evaluated for their iron status. The patients were divided into four distinct groups: chronic hepatitis C (63), chronic hepatitis B (14), B + C (3) and nonviral chronic liver diseases (43). In 107 patients (87%) the chronic liver disease was confirmed by biopsy. Mean serum iron (±sd) levels in the above four groups were: 166 ± 62, 103 ± 52, 142 ± 48, and 115 µg/dl; iron-binding capacity was 346 ± 80, 325 ± 72, 297 ± 27, and 374 ± 75 µg/dl, and iron saturation 50 ± 18, 32 ± 16, 48 ± 16, and 28 ± 10%, respectively. Serum ferritin, increased in all four groups, was highest in HCV; however, no evidence of hepatic iron accumulation could be found in any of the patients. There were no significant differences in liver function parameters measured in the four groups. We conclude that serum iron, iron saturation, and ferritin are increased in patients with hepatitis C in comparison to hepatitis B or other nonviral, nonhemochromatotic liver diseases. The increased iron status in hepatitis C patients is not manifested by increased liver iron. Awareness of these distinct features of chronic hepatitis C is essential in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic liver diseases.

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Affiliations

  1. From the Department of Gastroenterology, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Ichilov Hospital, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel

    N. Arber MD, F. M. Konikoff MD, M. Moshkowitz MD, M. Baratz MD, A. Hallak MD, M. Santo MD, Z. Halpern MD, H. Weiss MD &  T. Gilat MD

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  1. N. Arber MD
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  2. F. M. Konikoff MD
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  3. M. Moshkowitz MD
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  4. M. Baratz MD
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  5. A. Hallak MD
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  6. M. Santo MD
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  7. Z. Halpern MD
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  8. H. Weiss MD
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  9. T. Gilat MD
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Additional information

Part of this work has been previously published in an abstract from (Gastroenterology 104:872A, 1993).

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Arber, N., Konikoff, F.M., Moshkowitz, M. et al. Increased serum iron and iron saturation without liver iron accumulation distinguish chronic hepatitis C from other chronic liver diseases. Digest Dis Sci 39, 2656–2659 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02087705

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02087705

Key words

  • hepatitis
  • iron
  • hemochromatosis
  • HCV
  • HBV
  • chronic liver disease