ABSTRACT
Recently, it has been found that iron is an important element in the natural history of hepatitis C. Serum markers of iron stores are frequently increased in chronic hepatitis C infected patients and therefore, detection of soluble transferrin receptor[sTfR] may allows for quantitative evaluation of intracellular iron. The aim of the present study was to study serum levels of soluble transferrin receptors in patients with chronic HCV. The study was carried out on 40 patients classified into three groups. Group I enrolled 10 chronic HCV with high serum iron and ferritin, Group II included 10 patients with chronic HCV with normal serum iron and ferritin [Both groups I, and II had no cirrhosis], Group III compromised of2O patients with chronic HCV and liver cirrhosis. Also 10 healthy subjects were taken as control. Soluble transferrin receptors were measured in patient sera using humans TJJ? ELISA Kit. The mean serum sTfR was significantly lower in group III than in groups I, II and IV. Also, it was significantly lower in group I than in groups II and IV On the other hand, no significant difference was found between groups II and IV. Correlation study revealed significant negative correlation between serum sTfR and serum iron and ferritin in groups L II and III. Moreover, in group III significant negative correlation was noticed between serum sTfR and staging [r0.83, 0.00]. sTfR can be regarded as a valuable and specific tool for investigating tissue iron that can be used to predict the degree of hepatocellular damage and progression into advanced fibrosis and subsequent cirrhosis