"Hepatic iron stain is a predictor of non-response"

Hepatic iron influences responses to combination therapy with
peginterferon alfa and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatogastroenterology. 2008 Jul-Aug;55(85):1412-5.
Lin TJ, Liao LY, Lin CL, Chang TA, Liu SO.
Department of Gastroenterology, Ren-Ai Branch, Taipei City Hospital,
Taipei, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/AIMS:
Mild to moderate iron overload is common in chronic hepatitis C (CHC)
and may influence the response to antiviral therapy. The aim of this
study was to assess the association among serum iron indices, hepatic
iron stores and sustained virological response (SVR) rates of
combination therapy with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin in patients
with CHC.
METHODOLOGY:
A total of 36 CHC patients were treated with peginterferon and
ribavirin for 6 months. The SVR was defined as undetectable hepatitis
C virus RNA by qualitative assay 6 months after the end of therapy.
The serum iron indices including ferritin, iron and transferrin
saturation were measured. The hepatic iron deposition was graded on
Perls' stain.
RESULTS:
The SVR was obtained in 25/36 (69.44%) patients. The serum iron
indices including transferrin saturation and ferritin were not
significantly different between patients with the SVR and without. In
multivariate logistic regression analysis, cirrhosis (P = 0.010, odds
ratio = 0.020) and a positive hepatic iron stain (P = 0.046, odds
ratio = 0.065) were both significantly independent predictors of non-
SVR.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings suggest that the positive hepatic iron stain is an
independent predictor of non-response to combination therapy with
peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for patients with CHC. Liver
cirrhosis also predicts non-responses to the combination therapy.

PMID: 18795701

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