[Significance of iron reduction for the therapy of chronic hepatitis C]

[Guest guest]

[significance of iron reduction for the therapy of chronic hepatitis C]

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AMD Special Report CME Newsletter: Volume 3 Drs. Sternberg and Franco

Recchia evaluate possible changes in ophthalmic practice with anti-VEGF

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Vojnosanit Pregl. 2005; 62(2):161-4 (ISSN: 0042-8450)

Nozi? D; Balint B; Stankovi? N; Dimitrijevi? J; Neskovi? G

Vojnomedicinska akademija, Klinika za infektivne i tropske bolesti,

Beograd.

BACKGROUND: It has been established that many patients with chronic

hepatitis C have elevated serum iron, feritin levels and iron deposites in

the liver. Therefore, the liver damage due to hepatitis C virus may be

aggravated with iron overload. In many studies higher levels of iron in

the blood and the liver were connected with the decreased response to

interferon-alfa therapy for chronic viral hepatitis C. Recent introduction

of pegylated interferons plus ribavirin has improved the therapeutic

response, so it is now possible to cure more than 50% of the patients.

CASE REPORT: Three patients with chronic hepatitis C and iron overload

were presented. Iron reduction therapy using phlebotomy or

eritrocytapheresis with plasmapheresis was done at different times in

regard to specific antiviral therapy or as a sole therapy. CONCLUSION: It

has been shown that iron reduction, sole or combined with antiviral

therapy, led to the deacreased aminotransferase serum activity and might

have slown down the evolution of chronic hepatitis C viral infection.

Subject Headings

Major Subject Heading(s) Minor Subject Heading(s)

* Adult

* English Abstract

* Hepatitis C, Chronic [complications] [therapy]

* Humans

* Iron Overload [complications] [therapy]

* Male

* Phlebotomy

* Plasmapheresis

* PreMedline Identifier: 15787170

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I will say of the L-rd, He is my refuge andmy

fortress: my G-d; in Him will I trust.Psalm 91;2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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