The prognostic value of changes in serum ferritin levels during therapy for hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract

An increase in serum ferritin levels during combined interferon-ribavirin treatment in chronic patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) can occur. A study was conducted to determine whether observing the kinetics of serum ferritin levels during antiviral therapy, may assist in predicting the rate of sustained virological response. The kinetics of serum ferritin levels during antiviral therapy in treatment-naive, adherent patients with chronic HCV who had early virological response were characterized. Thirteen patients achieved sustained virological response (group 1) while eight patients did not (group 2). Pre-treatment serum ferritin levels were higher in group 2 patients. During antiviral therapy, serum ferritin levels increased in both groups. On treatment, the median increase (compared to baseline) and the calculated rate of the increase in serum ferritin levels was higher in group 1 patients (874% vs. 272%, P < 0.05, 63%/week vs. 13%/week, P = 0.024, respectively). Red blood cell lysis did not contribute to the increase in serum ferritin level. Post-treatment (1st month) serum ferritin levels in group 1 patients were lower than in group 2 patients. In addition, the degree of decline in the 1st month serum ferritin levels (from peak levels) in group 1 patients was higher (76% vs. 49%, P = 0.039). Measuring serum ferritin levels during antiviral therapy in HCV patients who had an early virological response may assist in predicting sustained virological response.

Serum Ferritin as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Kawasaki Disease

“…In addition, we enrolled 32 patients with other acute febrile diseases presenting with fever lasting more than three days. Exclusion criteria were the presence of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and viral infections, such as hepatitis C, avian influenza A (H5N1), dengue fever, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with increased serum ferritin levels [9][10][11][12][13].…”