of liver disease but not with hemochromatosis gene mutations

Background and Aims: Iron deposits in the liver and abnormalities in serum iron biochemistry are frequently observed in patients with chronic liver diseases, but data for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are scarce. Moreover, the role of HFE mutations in iron deposits in this condition remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of serum iron bio-chemical abnormalities and iron deposits in the liver of chronic HBV patients, and to evaluate the con-sequences for the activity and severity of liver disease. Additionally, we studied the role of HFE gene mutations in iron deposits. Methods: Eighty-one male non-cirrhotic HBV patients were studied. Serum iron biochemistry, liver enzymes and C282Y/H63D mutations were investigated. Liver biopsies were scored for necroinflamma-tory activity (histological activity index [HAI]), fibrosis and iron deposits. Results: Elevated transferrin saturation (TS) was found in 27.1 % of patients and liver iron deposits in 48.7%; these deposits were mild in 68.4 % and moderate in 31.6%. Patients with liver iron deposits exhibited significantly higher scores for HAI and fibrosis than those without iron deposits. HFE muta-tions were identified in 23.4 % of patients (14 H63D heterozygotes, four H63D homozygotes, one com