CORRELATION BETWEEN SERUM LEVELS OF ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE AND FERRITIN IN MALE BLOOD-DONORS WITH ANTIBODY TO HEPATITIS-C VIRUS

Chronic hepatitis C has been demonstrated to be associated with hepati c iron overload, and the hypothesis that the disease activity of hepat itis C is associated with iron cytotoxicity was tested in male volunte er blood donors. Sera with either antibody to hepatitis C virus or hep atitis B surface antigen were selected for determination of ferritin c oncentration and alanine aminotransferase activity. A correlation betw een serum ferritin concentration (Y; mug/l) and alanine aminotransfera se activity (X; IU/l) was found in donors with antibody to hepatitis C (log Y = 0.65 x log X + 0.98, r = 0.53, and P < 0.01). The correlatio n was lower in donors with hepatitis B surface antigen (r = 0.37; P < 0.01). Hepatitis C virus infection probably induces time-dependent iro n accumulation associated with the progression of disease activity, wh ile hepatitis B virus infection results in a variety of iron loads wit h different clinical features. The high disease activity related to hy perferritinemia suggests the presence of iron-induced liver damage in donors with hepatitis C.