According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hepatitis C is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States, with approximately 3.2 million people infected. Hepatitis can have serious complications, such as excessive iron storage and cirrhosis. The best way to keep an active role in your health is to stay educated on the disease.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis C virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease is spread through blood contact with an infected person and can come from sharing needles, having blood transfusions prior to 1992 or through accidental needle sticks. Fifteen percent to 20 percent of those infected develop acute hepatitis C that goes into a lifetime remission without further intervention. The other 75 percent to 80 percent develop chronic hepatitis C that causes liver damage and can result in liver failure. Cirrhosis and liver cancer are common complications related to chronic hepatitis C.
Iron
The National Institutes of Health reports that iron is an essential component of proteins involved in oxygen transport and also is essential for the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Most iron is stored in red blood cells. Iron toxicity, or iron overload, occurs when too much iron builds up in the body's tissues or organs. Iron overload is a risk because the body generally stores iron rather than excreting it from the body.
Connection
Viruses such as hepatitis replicate within a host cell in the human body, and iron is needed for the virus to reproduce. The virus has adapted over time and developed the ability to produce its own iron inside of a host cell. This guarantees the ability to replicate. Cirrhosis of the liver causes an increased risk of excessive iron. Patients with hepatitis C are at an increased risk for developing cirrhosis, which leads to a higher risk of developing iron overload.
Overload
Iron overload can have a serious impact on your health. It can lead to permanent heart damage, diabetes and osteoarthritis. For those infected with hepatitis C, iron overload can worsen cirrhosis. Cirrhosis leads to scarring of the liver that impacts its ability to function and can lead to liver cancer. Excessive iron in the blood can increase the progression of hepatitis C and lead to additional liver damage.
Prevention/Solution
Have your blood iron levels testing on a regular basis. If your iron level is too high, you will need to go through iron removal. Blood loss is the only way to rid the body of excess iron. This process is similar to donating blood and might need to be done weekly for a year or longer.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Hepatitis C Information for Health Professionals
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Hepatitis C
- National Institutes of Health: Iron
- Landes Bioscience: Extra View Iron Toxicity
- Be Transfusion Smart: The Serious Consequences of Iron Overload
- Hepatitis C Support Group: What is iron overload?
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