Hepatic Iron and Copper Concentrations in Patients with Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Kim, Hyong Wook; Kim, Tae Oh; Ryu, Soo Hyoung; Kang, Dae Hwan; Song, Chul Soo; Song, Guen Am; Cho, Mong; Yang, Ung Suk

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In viral hepatitis, it is unclear whether iron and copper play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of correlation between the hepatic concentrations of these metals and the grades of inflammation or stages of fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.
METHODS
This study included 53 patients consisting of 44 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 6 patients with chronic hepatitis C, and 3 patients with cirrhosis. Hepatic iron and copper concentrations were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma- Atomic Emission Spectrometry.
RESULTS
Average hepatic iron concentration was 583.2+/-606.5 microgram/g dry weight. In one patient (1.9%), hepatic iron concentration was unusually high (4573.0 microgram/g dry weight). Hepatic iron concentrations were not different according to the grade of portal/periportal and lobular inflammation, or the stage of fibrosis. Average hepatic copper concentration was 65.3+/-35.3 microgram/g dry weight and hepatic copper concentrations were increased in 25 patients (47.2%). Hepatic copper concentrations were significantly related with the grade of portal/periportal inflammation (rs=0.475, p<0.001), lobular inflammation (rs=0.362, p=0.008), and the stage of fibrosis (rs=0.410, p=0.002).
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that copper may have an important role as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of hepatic injury in chronic viral hepatitis.