Successful treatment with lamivudine may correlate with reduction of serum ferritin levels in the patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis type B

Purpose To study the changes in serum ferritin levels in lamivudine (LAM)-treated patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis type B and determine whether successful treatment with LAM results in a reduction of serum ferritin levels. Methods Thirty patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were followed prospectively during their treatment with LAM for 12 months. Serum HBV DNA, ferritin levels, and emergence of YMDD mutants were monitored. A case of severe liver cirrhosis with hepatic hemosiderosis that was treated successfully with LAM also is shown as a representative case. Results Serum alanine aminotransferase and ferritin levels decreased significantly more in the patients treated with LAM without YMDD mutants ( n = 23) than those with mutants ( n = 7). Hepatic hemosiderosis along with serum iron markers improved greatly in the representative patient. Conclusion Successful treatment with LAM may reduce serum ferritin levels and improve hepatic siderosis in a subset of patients with chronic HBV infection.