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Journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences
Publisher Springer Netherlands
ISSN 0163-2116 (Print) 1573-2568 (Online)
Category Original Article
DOI 10.1007/s10620- 009-0833- 1
Subject Collection Medicine
SpringerLink Date Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Original Article
Increased Oxidative Stress, Decreased Total Antioxidant Capacity, and Iron
Overload in Untreated Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Danielle Venturini1, Andr閍 Name Colado Sim鉶1, D閏io Sabbatini Barbosa1,
Edson Lopes Lavado2, Victor Emanuel Soares Narciso3, Isaias Dichi3 and Jane
Bandeira Dichi3
(1) Department of Pathology, Clinical Analysis and Toxicology, University of
Londrina, Londrina, Paran�, Brazil
(2) Department of Physiotherapy, University of Londrina, Londrina, Paran�,
Brazil
(3) Department of Internal Medicine, University of Londrina, Avenida Robert Koch
no. 60 Bairro Cervejaria, Londrina, Paran�, Brazil

Received: 7 October 2008 Accepted: 30 April 2009 Published online: 10 June 2009


Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine oxidative stress in patients with
untreated chronic hepatitis C (CHC), relating the obtained results with iron
status and disease activity markers. Two groups (CHC patients and controls) were
studied. CHC patients presented significantly higher values than the control
group in some parameters: ALT, AST, GGT, iron, ferritin, and transferrin
saturation, and also in tert-butyl hydroperoxide initiate chemiluminescence and
thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) as well as lower values in total
radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP). TBARS showed a significant
correlation with serum AST and with transferrin saturation, whereas TRAP
correlated inversely with serum albumin. Serum ferritin correlated with ALT and
GGT, whereas serum iron did so with GGT. In conclusion, lower antioxidant
capacity, higher levels of pro-oxidants activity, and iron overload occur in
untreated patients with CHC. This greater
oxidative activity could play an important role in pathogenesis and evolution
of hepatitis C and thus further investigations.


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