Effect of hepatic iron concentration and viral factors in chronic hepatitis C-infected patients with thalassemia major, treated with interferon and ribavirin

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of the sample studied

Characteristic	N = 30
Sex
Male	17
Female	13
Age (years)	22.56 ± 4.28
Viral load (copies/mL)	333432 ± 422285
HIC (mmol/g)	157.34 ± 90.51
HCV genotype (%)
1a	80
3a	20

Note: Quantitative variables are expressed as mean ± SD.

Abbreviations: HCV, hepatitis C virus; HIC, hepatic iron concentration.

Table 2 Viral load, HCV genotype, and hepatic iron concentration (HIC) in patients presenting a sustained virological response (SVR) and in nonresponders (NR)

	SVR	NR	Pvalue
Viral load (copies/mL)
Low	1 (50)	1 (50)	0.414
Intermediate	11 (45.8)	13 (54.2)
High	3 (75)	1 (25)
HCV genotype
1a	10 (41.7)	14 (58.3)	0.068
3a	5 (83.3)	1 (16.7)
HIC (mmol/g)
Low	7 (50)	7 (50)	1.00
Intermediate	8 (50)	8 (50)
High	0 (0)	0 (0)

Note: Categorical variable expressed as number (percent).

Abbreviation: HCV, hepatitis C virus.

Table 3 Comparison between viral load and hepatic iron concentration (HIC) of responders and nonresponders (NR)

	SVR	NR	Pvalue
Viral load	367223 ± 532418	299640 ± 288912	0.669
HIC	164.93 ± 95.06	149.76 ± 88.37	0.654

Note: Quantitative variables expressed as mean ± SD.

Abbreviation: SVR, sustained virological response.