Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVES: PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients with CHC, who were qualified for antiviral therapy, were compared with 19 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In both groups, liver function tests and serum iron parameters were assayed and hepcidin mRNA expression was measured in liver specimens using real time PCR with normalization to reference genes mRNA of stable expression. RESULTS: Patients with CHC had lower hepcidin mRNA expression and more frequently iron deposits in hepatocytes than subjects with CHB did. In CHC group, hepcidin mRNA expression was positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase activity and serum iron concentration. Low expression of hepcidin had no correlation with tissue iron overload in those with CHC. In univariate analysis, HCV viral load and efficacy of antiviral treatment were not significantly associated with hepcidin mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies on the role of hepcidin in pathogenesis of CHC are needed to assess the potency of its use in antiviral treatment.
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Authors | Katarzyna Sikorska, Tomasz Romanowski, Piotr Stalke, Ewa Izycka Swieszewska, Krzysztof Piotr Bielawski |
Journal | Hepatitis monthly
(Hepat Mon)
Vol. 14
Issue 11
Pg. e21184
(11 2014)
ISSN: 1735-143X [Print] Netherlands |
PMID | 25598789
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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