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The relation of iron status and hemochromatosis gene mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis C

L Kazemi-Shirazi1, C Datz, T Maier-Dobersberger

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Gastroenterology
|December 31, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Genetic hemochromatosis mutations contribute to iron accumulation in chronic hepatitis C patients, but do not fully explain the condition. Homozygosity for HFE mutations does not always correlate with high hepatic iron levels.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Genetics
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Elevated hepatic iron concentration can impact antiviral therapy response in chronic hepatitis C.
  • Genetic hemochromatosis is a potential contributor to iron accumulation in this patient population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of HFE gene mutations (C282Y and H63D) in iron accumulation among patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  • To determine if HFE mutations explain the observed iron overload in chronic hepatitis C.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed HFE mutations (C282Y, H63D) in 184 chronic hepatitis C patients and 487 controls.
  • Analyzed liver biopsy specimens from 149 patients.
  • Measured hepatic iron content in 114 patients using atom-absorption spectrophotometry.

Main Results:

  • HFE mutation allele frequencies were slightly higher in patients than controls.
  • Biochemical iron overload was more prevalent in patients with HFE mutations (28/47) compared to those without (34/102; P=0.0045).
  • Histological iron grading and hepatic iron content showed overlap; high hepatic iron index was rare even in homozygotes.

Conclusions:

  • HFE mutations contribute to, but do not fully account for, hepatic iron accumulation in chronic hepatitis C.
  • C282Y or H63D homozygosity in chronic hepatitis C is not consistently associated with elevated hepatic iron content.
Abstract

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