Non-Specific Iron in Patients with Beta-Thalassaemia Trait and Chronic Active Hepatitis

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Abstract
A non-specific Fe fraction, not bound to transferrin, was looked for in the sera of 42 never-transfused patients with .beta.-thalassemia trait; 17 had chronic active hepatitis, negative for HBV [hepatitis B virus] infection or alcohol abuse. Non-specific Fe was found only in the sera of those patients with .beta.-thalassemia trait plus chronic active hepatitis who had complete transferrin saturation, high serum ferritin levels and urinary Fe excretion and a high degree of hepatic siderosis. In view of the known toxicity of non-transferrin Fe, this non-transferrin Fe fraction may be responsible for the liver damage in these patients. The positive correlation between the presence and the amount of non-transferrin Fe and the levels of serum ferritin suggests that this fraction is a sensitive indicator of Fe-induced toxicity when severe Fe overload slowly develops in patients with .beta.-thalassemia trait even in the absence of any Fe administration.