AIM: To investigate the relationship between ferritin and steatosis in patients with chronically abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) and high ferritin level. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four consecutive patients ...AIM: To investigate the relationship between ferritin and steatosis in patients with chronically abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) and high ferritin level. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four consecutive patients with hyperferritinemia (male > 300 ng/mL, female > 200 ng/mL) were evaluated; clinical, biochemical and serological data, iron status parameters, HFE gene mutations and homeostasis model assessment score were obtained. Steatosis was graded by ultrasound as absent or present. Histology was available in 53 patients only. RESULTS: Mean level of ferritin was 881 ± 77 ng/mL in men and 549 ± 82 ng/mL in women. The diagnosis was chronic hepatitis C in 53 (42.7%), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in 57 (45.9%), and cryptogenic liver damage in 14 (11.3%). None was diagnosed as hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). Hepatic siderosis on liver biopsy was present in 17 of 54 (32%) patients; grade 1 in eight and grade 2 in nine. Overall, 92 patients (74.2%) had steatosis. By logistic regression, ferritin and γ-glutamyltransferase were independent predictors of steatosis. Ferritin levels were signifi cantly related to low platelet count, steatosis and hepatitis C virus infection. CONCLUSION: In a non-obese cohort of non-alcoholic patients with chronically abnormal LFTs without HH, high serum ferritin level is a risk factor for steatosis.展开更多
AIM: To assess the efficacy of different schedules of consensus interferon (CIFN) plus ribavirin in retreating chronic hepatitis C patients who relapsed after recombinant interferon (rIFN) monotherapy. METHODS: Forty-...AIM: To assess the efficacy of different schedules of consensus interferon (CIFN) plus ribavirin in retreating chronic hepatitis C patients who relapsed after recombinant interferon (rIFN) monotherapy. METHODS: Forty-five patients (34 males and 11 females) with chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 who relapsed after a previous course of rIFN monotherapy were randomized to receive 9 μg CIFN three times per week for 52 wk (group A, n = 22) or 18 μg CIFN three times per week for 52 wk (group B, n = 23) in combination with ribavirin 800 to 1200 mg daily for 52 wk (according to body weight). Virological response was evaluated at week 24 (EVR), at the end of treatment (ETR) and at 76 wk (SVR). RESULTS: By intention-to-treat analysis, subjects in group A had an EVR in 35% of cases, an ETR in 35% and a SVR in 27.3% of cases. Subjects in group B had an EVR in 32% of cases, an ETR in 35% and a SVR in 26.1% of cases. Treatment was stopped because of adverse effects (mostly intolerance) in 15 patients (6 in group A and 9 in group B). IFN dose reduction was needed in 2 patients (1 in group A and 1 in group B). Ribavirin dose was reduced in 2 patients in group A and 1 in group B respectively. Among the 15 subjects who received at least 80% of the intended schedule, the rate of SVR was 80% (6 in group A and 6 in group B). CONCLUSION: CIFN in combination with ribavirin when given to HCV genotype 1 relapsers after rIFN monotherapy obtains an unsatisfactory rate of sustainedviral clearance independently of dosage of the drug. This may be due to its scarce tolerability.展开更多
文摘AIM: To investigate the relationship between ferritin and steatosis in patients with chronically abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) and high ferritin level. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four consecutive patients with hyperferritinemia (male > 300 ng/mL, female > 200 ng/mL) were evaluated; clinical, biochemical and serological data, iron status parameters, HFE gene mutations and homeostasis model assessment score were obtained. Steatosis was graded by ultrasound as absent or present. Histology was available in 53 patients only. RESULTS: Mean level of ferritin was 881 ± 77 ng/mL in men and 549 ± 82 ng/mL in women. The diagnosis was chronic hepatitis C in 53 (42.7%), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in 57 (45.9%), and cryptogenic liver damage in 14 (11.3%). None was diagnosed as hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). Hepatic siderosis on liver biopsy was present in 17 of 54 (32%) patients; grade 1 in eight and grade 2 in nine. Overall, 92 patients (74.2%) had steatosis. By logistic regression, ferritin and γ-glutamyltransferase were independent predictors of steatosis. Ferritin levels were signifi cantly related to low platelet count, steatosis and hepatitis C virus infection. CONCLUSION: In a non-obese cohort of non-alcoholic patients with chronically abnormal LFTs without HH, high serum ferritin level is a risk factor for steatosis.
文摘AIM: To assess the efficacy of different schedules of consensus interferon (CIFN) plus ribavirin in retreating chronic hepatitis C patients who relapsed after recombinant interferon (rIFN) monotherapy. METHODS: Forty-five patients (34 males and 11 females) with chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 who relapsed after a previous course of rIFN monotherapy were randomized to receive 9 μg CIFN three times per week for 52 wk (group A, n = 22) or 18 μg CIFN three times per week for 52 wk (group B, n = 23) in combination with ribavirin 800 to 1200 mg daily for 52 wk (according to body weight). Virological response was evaluated at week 24 (EVR), at the end of treatment (ETR) and at 76 wk (SVR). RESULTS: By intention-to-treat analysis, subjects in group A had an EVR in 35% of cases, an ETR in 35% and a SVR in 27.3% of cases. Subjects in group B had an EVR in 32% of cases, an ETR in 35% and a SVR in 26.1% of cases. Treatment was stopped because of adverse effects (mostly intolerance) in 15 patients (6 in group A and 9 in group B). IFN dose reduction was needed in 2 patients (1 in group A and 1 in group B). Ribavirin dose was reduced in 2 patients in group A and 1 in group B respectively. Among the 15 subjects who received at least 80% of the intended schedule, the rate of SVR was 80% (6 in group A and 6 in group B). CONCLUSION: CIFN in combination with ribavirin when given to HCV genotype 1 relapsers after rIFN monotherapy obtains an unsatisfactory rate of sustainedviral clearance independently of dosage of the drug. This may be due to its scarce tolerability.
