Raised serum ferritin predicts non-response to interferon and ribavirin treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection

: Background/Aim: Previous studies have indicated that response to interferon therapy is inversely proportional to the amount of body iron stores. We have studied the relationship between serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, liver iron, presence of HFE‐C282Y gene mutation and response to treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Methods: Two hundred and fifty‐six naive, HCV‐RNA positive patients (60% males, median age 38 years, range 21–70) were treated with interferon and ribavirin for 6 months. Iron indices and the presence of the C282Y mutation were measured. In 242 (94%) patients iron deposition were determined by Perls staining method. Patients with negative HCV‐RNA at 6 months after the end of treatment were defined as sustained viral responders. Results: Non‐responders (n = 127) had significantly higher median s‐ferritin values compared with sustained viral responders (130 µg/L vs. 75 µg/L P