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Hepatitis C patients in puerto rico have an altered iron balance

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Abstract

Iron overload is a major concern in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection because excess iron can promote hepatocyte damage by activating iron-mediated lipid peroxidation. This may also facilitate viral replication. The objective of this pilot study was to test the hypothesis that Puerto Rican HCV patients have an altered serum iron (SIR) profile. Twenty-three HCV patients and 38 non-HCV controls were compared in terms of their serum iron, iron-binding capacity, percent saturation of transferrin, available binding capacity, and ferritin. Statistically significant differences (p<0.01, Student’s t-test) were found between the HCV patients and the non-HCV controls for SIR, transferrin saturation, and ferritin. The mean SIR concentration and transferrin saturation were 25% higher in HCV patients relative to controls. HCV patients had a mean ferritin value 48% higher than controls. These pilot study data indicate that Puerto Rican HCV patients have an altered iron balance and may be more susceptible to iron-induced oxidative stress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ponce School of Medicine, 00732, Ponce, Puerto Rico

    Carmencita Rojas & Jaime L. Matta

  2. Hogares Crea, Ponce Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico

    Brenda Matos

  3. Damas Hospital, Ponce, Puerto Rico

    Nilda Santiago & Alvaro Reymunde

Authors
  1. Carmencita Rojas
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  2. Brenda Matos
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  3. Nilda Santiago
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  4. Alvaro Reymunde
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  5. Jaime L. Matta
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Rojas, C., Matos, B., Santiago, N. et al. Hepatitis C patients in puerto rico have an altered iron balance. Biol Trace Elem Res 84, 239–245 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:84:1-3:239

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:84:1-3:239

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