Iron accumulation in chronic hepatitis C: relation of hepatic iron distribution, HFE genotype, and disease course.

The aim of the present study was to describe the histopathologic features of hepatic iron accumulation in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) infection, the relation between HFE mutations and hepatic iron location and among iron distribution, HFE, and hepatic damage. We studied 206 patients with CH-C infection. Of 101 patients with hemosiderin deposits, 90.

Erythrocytapheresis plus erythropoietin: an alternative therapy for selected patients with hemochromatosis and severe organ damage.

We report the efficacy, tolerability and cost of erythocytoapheresis plus recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in three patients with severe hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). Results indicate that this regimen could be a valid therapeutic alternative in complicated HH patients. Its cost, however, limits its use to patients whose clinical conditions prevent a proper phlebotomy regimen.

Homozygosity for transferrin receptor-2 Y250X mutation induces early iron overload.

Two Italian subjects, aged three and sixteen years, presented with early iron overload as shown by increased serum iron indices and hepatic iron concentration. They both carried the Y250X mutation of the TFR2 gene in the homozygous state. We suggest that transferrin receptor-2 is important in maintaining iron balance in the first decades of life.

Peripheral lymphocytes and intracellular cytokines in C282Y homozygous hemochromatosis patients.

Background/aims: Several abnormalities in the immune status of hereditary hemochromatosis patients have been reported. We evaluated the peripheral blood lymphocytes phenotype and cytokine profile of CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells in C282Y homozygous hereditary hemochromatosis patients compared to control subjects.

Methods: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 17 asymptomatic patients and 14 control subjects were analyzed.