Influence of iron on the severity of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Table 1 Demographic and laboratory data of 32 patients with CHC

Variable	Total population(n = 32)	Severe fibrosis(n = 16)	Mild fibrosis(n = 16)	P
Age (yr)	56.47 ± 10.92	60.75 ± 6.50	52.19 ± 12.85	0.024
Sex (male:female)	15 : 17	8 : 8	7 : 9	0.723
AST (IU/L)	105.47 ± 56.18	119.31 ± 55.75	91.63 ± 54.82	0.167
ALT (IU/L)	163.03 ± 102.99	167.81 ± 102.15	158.25 ± 106.95	0.798
Iron (μg/dL)	155.07 ± 43.27	149.50 ± 33.00	160.27 ± 51.71	0.513
TIBC (μg/dL)	356.97 ± 48.38	351.50 ± 41.23	362.07 ± 55.18	0.566
Transferrin saturation (%)	43.63 ± 11.69	42.51 ± 7.85	44.68 ± 14.62	0.621
Ferritin (ng/mL)	291.19 ± 213.72	329.41 ± 222.08	255.53 ± 206.72	0.362
Increased serum Iron store	14 (43.75%)	8 (50.00%)	6 (37.50%)	0.476
Positive hepatic Iron stain	4 (12.50%)	1 (6.25%)	3 (18.75%)	0.600
Viral genotype (1:2)	22 : 6	12 : 2	10 : 4	0.648
Viral load
(× 106 copies/mL)	4.94 ± 6.26	6.39 ± 8.16	3.48 ± 3.22	0.231

CHC: Chronic hepatitis C; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; TIBC: Total iron binding capacity. Data are expressed as mean ± SD or patients number (percentage). Transferrin saturation was calculated as serum iron divided by TIBC × 100%. The increased serum iron store was defined by transferrin saturation > 50% and/or ferritin > upper normal limit.