Serum ferritin levels are associated with a distinct phenotype of chronic hepatitis C poorly responding to pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy

• DOI: 10.1002/hep.24787
• Publication Date: 2011-11-17T07:40:47Z
• Authors: Christian M. Lange; Zoltan Kutalik; Kenichi Morikawa; Stéphanie Bibert; Andreas Cerny; Günter Dollenmaier; Jean-François Dufour; Tilman J. Gerlach; Markus H. Heim; Raffaele Malinverni; Beat Müllhaupt; Francesco Negro; Darius Moradpour; Pierre-Yves Bochud
• Keywords: Pegylated interferon; Hepatitis C

Abstract Elevated serum ferritin levels may reflect a systemic inflammatory state as well increased iron storage, both of which contribute to an unfavorable outcome chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We therefore performed comprehensive analysis the role and its genetic determinants in pathogenesis treatment CHC. To this end, at baseline therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha ribavirin or before biopsy were correlated clinical histological features virus (HCV) infection, including necroinflammatory activity (N = 970), fibrosis 980), steatosis 886), response 876). The association between high (>median) endpoints was assessed by logistic regression. Moreover, candidate gene genome-wide study performed. found that ≥ sex-specific median one strongest pretreatment predictors failure (univariate P < 0.0001, odds ratio [OR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34–0.60). This remained highly significant multivariate ( 0.0002, OR 0.35, CI 0.20–0.61), comparable interleukin IL ) 28B genotype. When patients IL28B genotypes stratified according versus low levels, SVR rates differed >30% HCV genotype 1- 3–infected 0.001). Serum also independently associated severe liver 2.67, 1.68–4.25) 0.002, 2.29, 1.35–3.91), but not 0.3). Genetic variations had only limited impact on levels. Conclusion: In CHC, elevated are advanced fibrosis, hepatic steatosis, poor interferon-alpha-based therapy. (Hepatology 2012)