Pilot study of the relationship between histologic progression and hepatic iron concentration in chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatic iron deposition is common in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and may play a role in progression of liver disease. This pilot study examines the relationship between hepatic iron concentration (HIC) and histologic progression over time in patients with HCV. HIC was retrospectively measured in 14 patients with HCV who had 2 serial liver biopsies prior to the era of interferon therapy. The mean interval between biopsies was 56 +/- 46 months. Mean Knodell score worsened between first and second biopsies (10.0 +/- 2.8 versus 12.4 +/- 3.3; P = 0.007). There was increased portal inflammation (3.2 +/- 0.4 versus 3.6 +/- 0.5; P = 0.028) and fibrosis (1.8 +/- 1.3 versus 2.7 +/- 1.2; P = 0.002), but no significant change in piecemeal necrosis or lobular degeneration. There was no significant change in HIC between first and second biopsy (P = 0.66). However, HIC was noted to increase significantly among patients with cirrhosis on initial biopsy or those who progressed to cirrhosis (P = 0.009). In this pilot study, histologic progression in patients with precirrhotic HCV was not associated with an increase in HIC, whereas hepatic iron accumulation was observed in 3 patients once cirrhosis was present. The interaction between progression of hepatitis C and iron deposition warrants further study.