Last modified: 2017-11-07
Abstract
Liver cirrhosis is an important cause of liver-related mortality worldwide. As one of major storage organs for iron, the liver also plays fundamental role in iron homeostasis. Iron parameters change, especially ferritin, need to be evaluated in patients with liver cirrhosis. Serum ferritin could predict the prognosis of patients with decompensated cirrhosis since it reflects immune-mediated and infectious stimuli. Moreover, ferritin could express the severity of liver disease and possible subsequent complications. Finally it might reflect an iron overload condition resulting in significant morbidity and early mortality. With serum iron parameters data, we could provide additional important information to determine a strategy for our patients by predicting their outcome. Seventy patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis divided in three Child-Pugh subgroups. Serum iron parameters including serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and ferritin were measured in these groups. From these 70 patients, 30 (42.9%) with HbaAg positive, 6 (8.6%) with antiHCV positive and 1 (1.4%) with both HbsAg and antiHCV positive. Of the 70 patients, 14 (20%) had CTP Class A cirrhosis, 17(24.3%) had CTP Class B cirrhosis and 39(55.7%) had CTP C cirrhosis. The median (range) value of serum iron was 36 (10-345) μg/dl, TIBC was 160 (59-520) μg/dl, Ferritin was 253.5 (8-6078) ng/ml and the transferrin saturation was 22.9 (3.65-216.98) %.We found a significant difference of serum ferritin level with CTP score. Ferritin levels increased as Child-Pugh class progressed   (p<0.001).