Advances in the management of transfusion dependent thalassemic patients have improved the survival of these patients. The most important consequence of repeated and frequent transfusions is iron accumulation in vital organs. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive and valid technique for the estimation of iron stores. Despite multiple studies about cardiac and liver MRI T2*, the...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Iron homeostasis is tightly regulated in mammals according to the needs of erythropoiesis and the iron stores present. This regulation is disrupted in hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), a genetic disorder characterized by increased intestinal iron absorption, leading to iron overload. The genes coding for HFE, transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2), ferroportin (SLC40A1 or FPN1),...

Background and aims: The role of the HFE S65C mutation in the development of hepatic iron overload is unknown. The aim of the present study was: (A) to determine the HFE S65C frequency in a Northern European population; and (B) to evaluate whether the presence of the HFE S65C mutation would result in a significant hepatic iron overload. Patients and methods: Biochemical iron parameters and HFE ...

BACKGROUND Mild iron overload is frequently observed in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). OBJECTIVE We aimed to study putative pathways underlying iron accumulation in NAFLD. DESIGN Hepatic and duodenal expression of critical iron molecules in NAFLD patients with (n = 32) and without (n = 29) iron overload, hereditary hemochromatosis (n = 10), and controls (n = 20) were investigated...

BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatic iron accumulation due to altered trafficking is frequent in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and is associated with more severe liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma. The p.Ala736Val TMPRSS6 variant influences iron metabolism regulating the transcription of the hepatic hormone hepcidin, but its role in the pathogenesis of iron overload disord...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The role of the HFE S65C mutation in the development of hepatic iron overload is unknown. The aim of the present study was: (A) to determine the HFE S65C frequency in a Northern European population; and (B) to evaluate whether the presence of the HFE S65C mutation would result in a significant hepatic iron overload. PATIENTS AND METHODS Biochemical iron parameters and HFE ...

The hypothesis of the role of iron overload associated with HFE gene mutations in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been raised in recent years. In the present study, biochemical and histopathological evidence of iron overload and HFE mutations was investigated in NASH patients. Thirty-two NASH patients, 19 females (59%), average 49.2 years, 72% Caucasians, 12% Mulatto...

We report the case of a 52 year old male with diabetes mellitus and long standing evidence of hepatic iron excess. Initially considered to have haemochromatosis, this patient was reevaluated when hepatic iron stores were found to be unaffected by a prolonged course of weekly phlebotomy. The development of neurological disease prompted diagnostic consideration of aceruloplasminaemia, which we co...

BACKGROUND Primary iron overload in African Americans has been reported predominantly from autopsy studies. METHODS We characterized hepatic iron phenotypes in 83 African Americans who underwent liver biopsy during the interval 1990 to 1995. We tabulated pathology report form data, iron grades in hepatocytes (0-4) and Kupffer cells (0-3) and abnormal liver histology. Increased iron was define...

Excess iron deposition in the liver catalyses the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which in turn initiate oxidative damage of protein and nucleic acids leading to several human diseases. The fruits of Terminalia Belerica Roxb. (TB) has been most commonly used not only in stimulating gastrointestinal health, but also in treatment of various hepatic disorders. The present study was aim...