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Effect of hepatic iron concentration and viral factors in chronic hepatitis C-infected patients with thalassemia major, treated with interferon and ribavirin Full Text
International Journal of General Medicine, 07/15/2011
Clinical Article
Jafroodi M et al. – hepatic iron concentration (HIC), hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load, and HCV genotype were not correlated with virological response, and it seems that there is no need to postpone antiviral treatment for more vigorous iron chelating therapy.
Methods- The authors enrolled 30 patients with thalassemia major and chronic HCV who were referred to the Hematology Clinic of Guilan University of Medical Sciences, between December 2002 and April 2006.
- HIC was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy before treatment.
- The viral factors (viral load, genotype) and HIC were compared between those who achieved a SVR and nonresponders.
- Mean age of the 30 thalassemic patients, was 22.56 ± 4.28 years (14–30 years).
- Most patients were male (56.7%).
- Genotype 1a was seen in 24 (80%) cases.
- SVR was achieved in 15 patients (50%).
- There were no significant correlations between HIC (P = 1.00), viral load (P = 0.414), HCV genotype (P = 0.068), and SVR.
- No difference was observed in viral load (P = 0.669) and HIC (P = 0.654) between responders and nonresponders.