HFE mutations in iranian hepatitis B virus infected patients

ABSTRACT

Finding an association between HFE mutations and hepatitis C especially in those with iron overload is the focus of recent researches. We examined the frequency of these mutations and ferritin level in a group of patients with different stages of hepatitis B and healthy individuals. A total of 75 [18 carrier, 57 chronic] cases of HBsAg positive patients and 194 healthy individuals were enrolled. C282Y and H63D mutations were sought in all subjects by digestion of PCR products with Rsa I and Ksp22I restriction endonucleases. Ten [13.3%] of cases and 31 [16%] of controls were heterozygote for H63D that showed no significant statistical differences [NS]. For C282Y mutation, we found 3[4%] heterozygote patients but none in the control group [p < 0.021]. The frequency of C282Y heterozygosity was 5.2% in chronic group while there was no similar case in carrier group. Significant statistical differences were also found between chronic and the control group [p < 0.005]. No statistically significant difference for frequency of HFE mutations was found between carrier and chronic group with each other [NS]. Mean level of ferritin in those with the mutation showed no statistically significant difference with that of patients without mutation [NS]. Our data indicate that the frequency of C282Y mutation is significantly higher in seropositive hepatitis B patients than in the healthy individuals and suggest that heterozygotes for C282Y mutation that have exposed to hepatitis B virus may have an increased risk of virus persistence or even chronicity