Hepatic Iron Accumulation and incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

摘要

Summary. Although hepatic iron accumulation is occasionally observed in patients with chronic hepatitis C, the pathophysiological significance has not been elucidated. Several methods for the evaluation of hepatic iron content have been utilized, but histological analysis has been most commonly carried out. Since the deposition of hepatic iron is different in the liver, direct measurement of hepatic iron by atomic absorption spectrophotometry is Likely to be the most reliable method. Serum alanine aminotransferase decreases after extensive phlebotomy; thus, hepatic iron is suggested to be involved in injury to hepatocytes. The most important clinical issue is the possible relationship of hepatic iron content and the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),but no definite relationship has been established. Therefore, a randomized control study is necessary to clarify whether or not the development of HCC is reduced by removing hepatic iron by extensive phlebotomy in chronic hepatitis C.