Is copper hepatotoxic in primary biliary cirrhosis?

In primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) liver copper retention occurs as a complication of cholestasis. By analogy with Wilson's disease, it has been suggested that copper retention is hepatotoxic in PBC, and this has been the rationale for the use of D-penicillamine in this disease. The hypothesis that copper is hepatotoxic in PBC has not been tested and in this study we have evaluated the role of liver copper retention in the pathogenesis of PBC.

Short incubation non-A, non-B hepatitis transmitted by factor VIII concentrates in patients with congenital coagulation disorders.

Ten cases are reported of short incubation (one to four weeks) non-A, non-B hepatitis occurring after infusion of various preparations of factor VIII concentrates into patients with coagulation disorders. Five patients were symptomatic and, in all, serum transaminase levels were increased for at least six months. These cases of chronic hepatitis exhibited none of the features of autoimmune chronic hepatitis: autoantibodies were negative and serum immunoglobulins were normal.

Studies on the rat liver following iron overload.

Sprague-Dawley rats were given Jectofer injections to obtain iron overload in rat liver Kupffer and parenchymal cells. The release of iron was studied on the light and electron microscopical level by bleeding of the iron loaded animals and comparing the results with non bled controls. During the mobilization of iron.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis: a review of its clinical features, cholangiography, and hepatic histology.

Twenty-nine patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis were reviewed. Males predominated (2:1). Seventy-six per cent presented with cholestasis and cholangitis, 17% with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and 7% were asymptomatic, presenting with a raised serum alkaline phosphatase.