Liver iron influences the response to interferon alpha therapy in chronic hepatitis C

Objective: To define whether there is any relation between the iron status of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic liver disease anti their response to interferon therapy. Design: To evaluate the long-term response to 1 year of interferon therapy with addition of phlebotomies after 3 months of treatment if at that time alanine aminotransferase (ALT) had not normalized in a group of patients with HCV-positive chronic liver disease whose iron status had been characterized. Setting: A northern Italian hospital. Participants: Fifty-eight anti-HCV-positive patients (four HCV-RNA negative) with biopsy proven chronic hepatitis and no evidence of iron overload as indicated by normal transferrin saturation at the time of enrolment in the study. Intervention: Three times a week intramuscular injection of alpha interferon 3 MU for 1 year with addition of phlebotomies (350 ml/week) till iron depletion if after 3 months of interferon therapy ALT had not normalized. Results: A long-term res...