Abstract | INTRODUCTION: HFE p.C282Y homozygosity is the most common cause of hereditary haemochromatosis. There is currently insufficient evidence to assess whether non-specific symptoms or hepatic injury in homozygotes with moderately elevated iron defined as a serum ferritin (SF) of 300-1000 µg/L are related to iron overload. As such the evidence for intervention in this group is lacking. We present here methods for a study that aims to evaluate whether non-specific symptoms and hepatic fibrosis markers improve with short-term normalisation of SF in p.C282Y homozygotes with moderate elevation of SF. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Mi- iron is a prospective, multicentre, randomised patient-blinded trial conducted in three centres in Victoria and Queensland, Australia. Participants who are HFE p.C282Y homozygotes with SF levels between 300 and 1000 μg/L are recruited and randomised to either the treatment group or to the sham treatment group. Those in the treatment group have normalisation of SF by 3-weekly erythrocytapheresis while those in the sham treatment group have 3-weekly plasmapheresis and thus do not have normalisation of SF. Patients are blinded to all procedures. All outcome measures are administered prior to and following the course of treatment/ sham treatment. Patient reported outcome measures are the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-primary outcome), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ( HADS), Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form V.2 (SF36v2) and Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 short form (AIMS2-SF). Liver injury and hepatic fibrosis are assessed with transient elastography (TE), Fibrometer and Hepascore, while oxidative stress is assessed by measurement of urine and serum F2-isoprostanes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committees of Austin Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial identifier: NCT01631708; Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov.
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Authors | Sim Yee Ong, Lara Dolling, Jeannette L Dixon, Amanda J Nicoll, Lyle C Gurrin, Michelle Wolthuizen, Erica M Wood, Greg J Anderson, Grant A Ramm, Katrina J Allen, John K Olynyk, Darrell Crawford, Jennifer Kava, Louise E Ramm, Paul Gow, Simon Durrant, Lawrie W Powell, Martin B Delatycki |
Journal | BMJ open
(BMJ Open)
Vol. 5
Issue 8
Pg. e008938
(Aug 12 2015)
ISSN: 2044-6055 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 26270952
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions. |
Chemical References |
- HFE protein, human
- Hemochromatosis Protein
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
- Membrane Proteins
- Ferritins
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Blood Component Removal
- Erythrocyte Transfusion
- Ferritins
(blood)
- Hemochromatosis Protein
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
(genetics)
- Homozygote
- Humans
- Iron Overload
(therapy)
- Membrane Proteins
(genetics)
- Middle Aged
- Prospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
- Young Adult
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