From: ironjustice on
The effect of iron depletion on chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Journal Hepatology International
Publisher Springer New York
ISSN 1936-0533 (Print) 1936-0541 (Online)
Category Review Article
DOI 10.1007/s12072-008-9076-z
Review Article
The effect of iron depletion on chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Massimo Franchini1 , Giovanni Targher2, Franco Capra3, Martina
Montagnana4 and Giuseppe Lippi4

(1) Servizio di Immunoematologia e Trasfusione, Centro Emofilia,
Azienda Ospedaliera di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico, Piazzale Ludovico
Scuro, Verona, 37134, Italy
(2) Sezione di Endocrinologia e Malattie del Metabolismo,
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgiche, Università di
Verona, Verona, Italy
(3) Medicina Interna C, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e
Chirurgiche, Università di Verona, Verona, Italy
(4) Istituto di Chimica e Microscopia Clinica, Dipartimento di
Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università di Verona, Verona, Italy

Received: 14 October 2007 Accepted: 21 March 2008 Published online:
8 May 2008

Abstract Increasing evidence exists that iron overload, a common
finding in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, plays an
important role in the pathophysiology of this disease. The mechanisms
by which iron excess induces liver damage along with the benefit of
iron depletion via phlebotomy on biochemical and histological outcomes
in patients with chronic HCV infection have been discussed in this
review. Finally, we focus on the effect of iron reduction on the rate
of response to interferon antiviral therapy.
Keywords Iron - Phlebotomy - HCV - IFN - Therapy


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Massimo Franchini
Email: mfranchini(a)univr.it


References
1. Lauer GM, Walker BD. Hepatitis C virus infection. N Engl J Med
2001;345:41–52.


Who loves ya.
Tom


Jesus Was A Vegetarian!
http://tinyurl.com/2r2nkh


Man Is A Herbivore!
http://tinyurl.com/a3cc3


DEAD PEOPLE WALKING
http://tinyurl.com/zk9fk