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Gender and liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis: the role of iron status
Author(s) -
Rigamonti C.,
Andorno S.,
Maduli E.,
Capelli F.,
Boldorini R.,
Sartori M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02517.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cirrhosis , univariate analysis , fibrosis , gastroenterology , liver biopsy , grading (engineering) , multivariate analysis , hepatitis , chronic hepatitis , hepatitis c , prospective cohort study , liver disease , biopsy , immunology , civil engineering , engineering , virus
Summary Background : The role of gender in the progression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C is still under investigation. Aim : To investigate whether gender affects the progression of liver disease and/or hides other risk factors. Methods : A prospective series of 121 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C underwent liver biopsy. Grading and staging for chronic hepatitis were each evaluated according to Ishak's classification. Results : In univariate and multivariate analysis on the whole group of patients, male gender was not associated either with significant liver fibrosis (Ishak's score >2) or with cirrhosis (Ishak's score >4). On the contrary, in univariate analysis on patients aged ≤50 years, male gender was nearly significantly ( P = 0.06) predictive of liver fibrosis, whereas it was not in patients >50 years. Hepatic iron grading, along with age, was an independent factor associated with fibrosis. Moreover, the values of all the variables which describe iron status were significantly higher in males aged ≤50 years in comparison with females of the same age. Conclusions : In chronic hepatitis C, male gender may be predictive of liver fibrosis only in patients aged≤50 years. Among fibrogenetic factors hidden by gender, iron status could play a major role.