A randomized trial of iron depletion in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hyperferritinemia.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To compare iron depletion to lifestyle changes alone in patients with severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hyperferritinemia, a frequent feature associated with more severe liver damage, despite at least 6 mo of lifestyle changes.

Methods

Eligible subjects had to be 18-75 years old who underwent liver biopsy for ultrasonographically detected liver steatosis and hyperferritinemia, ferritin levels ≥ 250 ng/mL, and NAFLD activity score > 1. Iron depletion had to be achieved by removing 350 cc of blood every 10-15 d according to baseline hemoglobin values and venesection tolerance, until ferritin < 30 ng/mL and/or transferrin saturation (TS) < 25%. Thirty-eight patients were randomized 1:1 to phlebotomy (n = 21) or lifestyle changes alone (n = 17). The main ou

SUBMITTER: Valenti L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3961977 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature