Serum iron parameters in patients with chronic liver disease according to etiology / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Iron is essential for life, but iron overload state cause potentially fatal health risk. There is growing evidence that only mildly increased amounts of hepatic iron can be damaging, particulary if combined with other hepatotoxic factors such as alcoholic or chronic viral hepatits B,C. The aim of this study was to assess the serum iron status of patients with various forms of hepatitis and cirrhosis of liver and to determine the correlation between the degree of hepatocyte damage (expressed as ALT activity) and status of serum iron parameters. METHODS: Our research involved 107 patients (69 male ranging in age from 27-67 and 38 female ranging in age from 32-62) diagnosed with chronic viral hepatitis B or type C, alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver. Serum iron parameters such as serum iron, ferritin, TIBC, and aminotransferase measured as necroinflammatory activity in Chronic hepatitis. RESULTS: There was no difference s-iron level between chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis but, significantly higher in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis than viral hepatitis and cirrhosis respectively. s-Ferritin level was significantly higher in cirrhosis than hepatits group, and more higher in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis than viral hepatitis and cirrhosis respectively. In chronic hepatitis groups, there are significant correlation between ALT and s-ferritin level regardness of etiology. CONCLUSION: Serum iron overload state was prominent in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis than viral hepatitis and cirrhosis. High serum ferritin level can predict hepatocyte damage in chronic hepatitis.

Iron Parameters and Soluble Transferrin Receptor in Neonates

PURPOSE: Serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is a marker of iron deficiency and erythropoiesis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes of iron parameters and sTfR in neonates by gestation; and to determine whether cord blood parameters for iron status and erythropoiesis are influenced by maternal iron deficiency or anemia. METHODS: Cord sTfR, iron and ferritin concentrations, hemoglobin (Hb), reticulocyte counts and total iron binding capacity were analyzed in 20 preterm and 60 term newborns. In term neonates, maternal iron status was classified by Hb and serum ferritin as anemic group (n=18; Hb or = 11 g/dl and ferritin < 12 microgram/l) and control (n=21, non anemic and non iron deficient). RESULTS: 1) Cord serum iron of preterm neonates was significantly lower than that of fullterm and the reticulocytes were significantly higher in preterm neonates. 2) The concentrations of cord serum iron were correlated positively with the gestational age, but other iron parameters and sTfR concentrations were not related to gestational age. The sTfR concentrations were correlated positively with cord blood hemoglobin. 3) Cord sTfR concentrations were significantly lower in newborns of anemic group compared with those of non-anemic group (P=0.03), or control (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Cord sTfR was influenced by maternal iron deficiency aenmia, but not by maternal iron deficiency alone. Since sTfR reflects fetal erythropoietic activity, we speculate that low sTfR in newborns of iron deficiency anemic mother could suggest decreased fetal erythropoiesis by maternal anemia caused by iron depletion.