Plasma prohepcidin levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis: relationship with liver fibrosis


Olmez O. F., Gurel S., YILMAZ Y.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY, vol.22, no.4, pp.461-465, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

Abstract

Objectives Iron is deemed to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of liver damage in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Hepcidin has recently emerged as the key hormone in the regulation of iron balance and recycling. We assessed plasma prohepcidin levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and investigated the association of this molecule with iron parameters, histologic activity index, and liver fibrosis scores.