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Published on: May 10, 2022
Successful antiviral therapy is associated with a decrease of serum prohepcidin in chronic hepatitis C.
Jerzy Jaroszewicz1, Magdalena Rogalska, Iwona Flisiak
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Zurawia Str 14, Bialystok 15-540, Poland.
World Journal of Gastroenterology
|April 10, 2010
Summary
Successful treatment for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin (RBV) lowers serum prohepcidin levels. This indicates hepatitis C virus (HCV) impacts iron metabolism, affecting hepcidin regulation.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Iron Metabolism
Background:
- Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with altered iron metabolism.
- Hepcidin, a key regulator of iron homeostasis, plays a crucial role in this process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum prohepcidin concentrations in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
- To evaluate the relationship between prohepcidin levels, disease activity, and treatment response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin (RBV) therapy.
Main Methods:
- Serum prohepcidin and iron metabolism markers were measured in 53 chronic hepatitis C patients.
- Measurements were taken at multiple time points before, during, and after antiviral therapy.
Main Results:
- Responders to PEG-IFN/RBV therapy showed a significant decrease in serum prohepcidin levels for both HCV genotype 1 and genotype 3a infections.
- Non-responders did not exhibit a decrease in prohepcidin.
- HCV-RNA levels at week 12 of therapy positively correlated with baseline and week 12 prohepcidin concentrations in HCV genotype 1 infection.
Conclusions:
- Effective PEG-IFN/RBV therapy leads to a reduction in serum prohepcidin in chronic hepatitis C patients.
- This suggests that HCV directly influences iron metabolism at the prohormonal level of hepcidin.
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