Relationship between iron concentration and hepatitis C virus RNA level inliver tissue

Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently have inc reased hepatic iron stores. The role of hepatitis C in hepatic iron deposit ion is unknown. The authors examined whether there is a relation between he patitis C virus level in liver tissue and hepatic iron concentration. Forty -two paired samples obtained from the liver explants of five patients who u nderwent transplantation for liver disease due to hepatitis C were studied. Hepatitis C virus levels were measured at multiple sites within each liver by a branched deoxyribonucleic assay. Measurements of hepatic iron concent ration were made at adjacent sites by a colorimetric assay. Random effects modeling showed wide intrahepatic variation in hepatic HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) concentration (variance = 1.2 x 10(4) [mEq/ g](2)) and hepatic iron concentration (variance = 1.3 x 10(6) [mu g/g](2)). There was, however, a t rend toward an association between the mean HCV level and the mean hepatic iron concentration for each liver (I = 0.30, p = 0.05). In conclusion, HCV level and iron concentration varied within and between cirrhotic livers. Va riability in intrahepatic iron concentration was not related to variability in intrahepatic HCV RNA concentration. More studies are needed to determin e the cause of variability in hepatic iron and HCV RNA concentration within and between livers in patients with chronic hepatitis C.