Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2019.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2019; 25(5): 521-538
Published online Feb 7, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i5.521
Table 2 Iron-related parameters in various fibrosis-promoting chronic liver diseases
NormalHereditary hemochromatosisALDNAFLD/NASHViral hepatitisDiabetes
Iron level/accumulationIn body: 3-5 g[7]; In RBCs: about 2.5 g; In liver: 300 mg to 1 g[7]Can be severe; Gradual increase, can reach up to 25-30 g in liver[7]ModerateMild-moderateMild-moderateMild-moderate
Serum ferritin24-300 µg/L[109]; 15-200 µg/L[101]; < 300 ng/mL in men, < 200 ng/mL in women[2]Mostly high, but can be normal[101]High[69,136]High[104,105] but 1st/3rd NASH patients can be iron deficient[86]High[116,137]High[138], associated with pre-diabetes
Serum hepcidin0.4-23.3 nmol/L[139]Low[64]Low[69,71,140]High[80,141]; Can be low in iron deficiency[86]; High in obesity, but not in NAFLD[142]; High in obesity with NAFLD[143]; Alterations can occur without iron-overload[111]Low in hepatitis C infections[144]; High in hepatitis B infections without cirrhosis and normal in those with cirrhosis[145]No major alteration in type 1[146]; Low in type 2 diabetes[147,148]
Transferrin saturation20%-45%[101]> 45%[101,109]High[69,136]Slightly raised, but can be normal or sub-normal[7]Mostly raised[88,149], but occasionally may not statistically differ from the norm[150]Low[138], associated with pre-diabetes