Iron storage in alcoholic fatty liver.

Abstract

Abstract. Liver storage iron and its relationship to the degree of steatosis have been studied in 52 male alcoholics without cirrhosis of the liver. A control series of 20 hematologically normal males with uncomplicated gall bladder disease was also studied. The amount of storage iron was determined histochemically and chemically. Chemical iron was related to dry weight and to alkali‐soluble protein. The degree of steatosis was determined by planimetric estimation of the amount of visible fat. The mean chemically determined liver iron concentration calculated on dry weight was significantly lower in alcoholics as compared with controls. With protein as a base of reference the mean iron concentration of alcoholics was lower than that of controls but not significantly so. The liver iron concentration was unrelated to the degree of steatosis. Histochemically visible iron was found in parenchymal liver cells approximately in the same frequency in alcoholics as in controls. The amount of histochemical iron in liver parenchymal cells was unrelated to the degree of steatosis. Histochemical iron in Kupffer cells was, however, significantly more frequent in alcoholics as compared to controls. There was more histochemically visible iron in Kupffer cells of livers with marked steatosis. It is concluded that noncirrhotic alcoholics consuming mainly distilled spirits do not show any increase of the total liver iron content irrespective of the degree of fatty liver. The increased occurrence of histiocytic hemosiderin in the alcoholics is suggested to be due to transfer of iron from injured parenchymal cells.