NIVELUL SERIC AL PROHEPCIDINEI LA PACIENŢII CU HEPATITĂ CRONICĂ VIRALĂ B ŞI C.

Objectives. Patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (VHC) have increased intrahepatic iron deposits, a condition that is associated with rapid progression of fibrosis and reduced viral response to antiviral therapy. The purpose of this study is to describe the behavior of serum prohepcidin, a peptide that acts decisively in iron homeostasis, depending on the viral response, but also its relationship with fibrosis, serum iron and ferritin in patients with VHC. We also aim to study the relationship prohepcidin - fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis B (VHB). Material and method. The prospective, longitudinal, observational study includes 82 patients with VHC treated with pegylatinterferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b and ribavirin, in dosages according to weight, as well as 36 patients with VHB treated with pegylatinterferon alfa-2a for 48 weeks. Another group consisted of 33 healthy volunteers. Results. The prohepcidin serum level is statistically significantly lower in patients with VHC than in those with VHB or the healthy volunteers (p=0.001). In patients with VHC with early viral response (EVR), and sustained viral response (SVR) respectively, the dynamic evolution (0-72 weeks) of serum prohepcidin has a linear rising trend while the serum iron and ferritin median levels are decreasing, as opposed to patients with SVR, where the serum prohepcidin, serum iron and ferritin have no significant variations. Serum prohepcidin is suppressed in the early stages of fibrosis in VHC, as well as in stage 3 fibrosis in VHB. Conclusions. The serum prohepcidin synthesis is suppressed in VHC, especially in the early stages of the hepatic disease and it improves in patients who obtain EVR or SVR. The serum prohepcidin is low in the late stages of VHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]