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SERUM FERRITIN LEVEL AS A PREDICTOR OF RESPONSE TO PEGYLATED INTERFERON / RIBAVIRIN THERAPY IN EGYPTIAN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C PATIENTS

Banha Medical Journal • 2012
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Publication Information
Authors yaser shahin, maha zein el abden, wael shahin, mohamed abd elaziz, gamal sheha
Keywords Not Available
Journal Banha Medical Journal
Publisher Not Available
Volume 29. No. 3
Issue Not Available
Pages Not Available
publication.type Local
Paper Link Not Available
Supplementary Materials Not Available
Abstract
Increased serum ferritin (SF) level has been encountered in various conditions, such as inflammatory syndromes and iron deposits in he¬patic mesenchymal cell. Interferon alpha is one of the stimulants of fer¬ritin production; serum iron level may affect the treatment response of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) . The aim of the study was to find out the rela¬tionship between SF level and response to treatment of CHC by peg in¬terferon and ribavirin. Methods: Data from 200 consecutive patients with CHC, fulfilling the criteria for treatment, were collected. Baseline SF level was measured and correlated to the therapeutic outcome. Re¬sults: Early virological response (EVR) was achieved in 84% of the pa¬tients, while Sustained Virological Response (SVR) was achieved in 53% of patients. EVR was significantly related to low viral load, fibrosis stage, alfa fetoprotein and low serum ferritin level (P=