We studied thirty patients with chronic viral hepatitis (15 had hepatitis B virus nd 15 had hepatitis C virus infection) and 10 normal healthy volluneers as a control group. They were investigated by procto-sigmoidoscopy, abdominalultrasonography, liver biopsy and fasting blood samples were taken to assess, serum iron, total iron
binding capacity (TIBC), serum type III procollagen peptide (PIIINP), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Asparate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin. The results did show a high level of both serum iron and PIMP in paftioeunntds wbeittwh ecehnr onic hepatitis as compared to the control group. No correlation was
serum iron and either PIIINP or aminotransferases, but significant correlations were found to both alk. phos. and bifirubin. A positive correlation was found between PIIINP and ALT indicating that PIIINP a known marker for liver fibrogenesis might be a marker for disease activity. inspite of the finding of absent relation between
serum iron and disease activity in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, the high nseifriucman lceev. els of iron in these patients needs further studies to evaluate its clinical sig- nseifriucman lceev. |
