Iron status and erythropoiesis in chronic hepatitis C patients on hemodialysis

Abstract

Introduction Anemia is an almost constant complication of advanced renal failure, which may worsen pre-existing heart disease and, as a consequence, accelerate the progression of renal dysfunction, and patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are associated with higher hemoglobin and hematocrit values compared with those without the infection. Aim of the work The aim of this study was to evaluate iron status and erythropoiesis in patients with chronic hepatitis C infections who were on hemodialysis and to determine whether HCV infection would affect the iron status and erythropoiesis in such patients, through assessment of serum visfatin and prohepcidin. Patients and methods All patients included in the study were subjected to the following: full medical history and clinical examination; routine laboratory investigations; serum ferritin and serum iron evaluation; total iron-binding capacity with transferrin saturation; evaluation of serum visfatin level using an enzyme immunoassay; and determination of serum prohepcidin concentration using available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results A total of 107 chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis (61 male and 46 female patients) were included in the study, and their ages ranged from 46 to 54 years, with a mean age of 50.5 ± 12.7. Of them, 61 were infected with HCV, and there was no significant relation with different causes of renal failure. Hemoglobin and hematocrit values were significantly higher in hemodialysis patients with HCV infection compared with those without HCV infection, with significant reduction of total iron supply and erythropoietin dosage/month. There were significant negative correlations between hemogloblin and hematocrit levels and iron supply and erythropoietin dosage/week, whereas significant positive correlation was observed between hemogloblin, hematocrit, serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, as well as liver enzymes (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase) with serum visfatin and prohepcidin. Moreover, transferrin saturation, ferritin, and prohepcidin contributed independently to visfatin variance. Conclusion Serum levels of visfatin and prohepcidin are higher in chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis and correlates with chronic hepatitis C infection, which is associated with an increased erythropoiesis, leading to lowering of the necessary erythropoietin dose and iron therapy.