Iron status parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatic iron deposition is common in patients with chronic hepatitis C [HCV] and may play a role in progression of liver disease. Aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of iron overload and to study the relationship between hepatic iron concentration [HIC] and clinical, biochemical and histological characteristics in chronic HCV-infected patients. Patients presenting with anti-HCV and HCV-RNA were included. Hepatic iron concentration was determined in liver tissue by colormetric assay. The association between HIC and age, gender, transaminases [AST and ALT] levels, iron and serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, HCV-RNA level, grading of inflammatory activity, staging of fibrosis, hepatic steatosis, and stainable iron was analyzed. Statistical analysis included the Mann-Whitney test and a multiple linear regression model. 48 patients [58% male] with a mean age of 44 +/- 10 years were studied. Serum iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation were elevated in 27%, 25% and 12.5% of patients respectively. Stainable iron was detected in few patients [16.6%]. Higher grades of stainable iron [2 and 3] were observed in only 6.25%. The HIC >30mmol/g dry weight] was elevated in three patients [6.2%]. Neither grading nor staging were related to HIC. Higher HIC were observed in male patients [p <0.001], in patients with elevated serum ferritin [p = 0.001] and in patients with stainable iron [grade 1; p =0.001]. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only stainable iron was independently correlated with HIC [p = 0.003]. Iron overload in chronically HCV-infected patients was uncommon and hepatic iron content seemed not to be related to the liver damage process. In the eventuality of iron overload, histochemical liver iron is a useful marker to estimate HIC

Intestinal metaplasia in elderly Egyptian hepatic patients

The world's elderly population is increasing dramatically. A substantial percentage of morbidity and mortality in elderly is attributable to liver disease. Aim of this work was evaluation of gastric mucosa in Egyptian elderly hepatic patients and its relation to cirrhosis, H. pylori and smoking. 120 patients with chronic liver disease of different age classified into 4 groups according to age and state of the liver disease [cirrhotic or non cirrhotic]. Upper endoscopy and biopsy for histopathological examination and detection of H. pylori was done for every patients. the prevalence of H. pylori were 50%, 40%, 63.3% and 53.3% in different groups respectively which is non significant, intestinal metaplasia was significantly detected in aged cirrhotic and non cirrhotic groups, while inflammation, activity and atrophy showed no significant difference in all groups. Intestinal metaplsia was prevalent in H. pylori positive cases and between smokers. intestinal metaplasia in Chronic hepatic patients was related to aging process, presence of H. Pylori and smoking more than liver pathology state

prevalence of portal hypertensive gastropathy and duodenopathy in some Egyptian cirrhotic patients

This study included 300 individuals classified into three groups: G I included 116 patients with mixed liver pathology [post-viral cirrhosis and post-bilharzial fibrosis], G II included 84 patients with pure post hepatitic viral cirrhosis and G III included 100 healthy individuals of comparable age and sex serving as a control group. Upper endoscopic examination was done for all groups. Gastric varices, gastric congestion and duodenal congestion were detected in 12%, 19.5% and 14.5%, respectively in Gs I and II with statistically significant difference when compared with the controls

Evaluation of a new enzyme immunoassay for the detection of helicobacter pylori in stool specimens

This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of HpSA by determining the sensitivity and specificity of the stool antigen test in predicting the successful eradication during and after antimicrobial therapy. Fifty patients [34 males and 16 females] with dyspepsia were selected; the exclusion criteria included the use of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors up to one month before the study. All cases were submitted to full history, general and local examination and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Biopsies were taken from the antrum and body of the stomach for rapid urease test and histopathology. The stool samples were taken to detect H. pylori stool antigen. Positive patients received eradication treatment for one month and H. Pylori status was redetermined by rapid urease test, histological examination and HpSA test one month later. H. pylori was detected by rapid urease test in 29 dyspeptic patients, by histology in 26 dyspeptic ones, while it was detected by HpSA immunoassay in 16 dyspeptic patients