Evaluation the Iron Load in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients with Fibroscan: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE: Iron preperations are frequently used in hemodalysis (HD) patients and iron may accumulate liver and other tissues. Noninvasively methods are needed to detect liver iron accumulation in HD patients. Hepatic iron accumulation with Fibroscan was shown in non-renal population. In this study, we aim to investigate whether or not the hepatic iron load can be determined with Fibroscan in hemodialysis patients.

MATERIAL and METHODS: 42 chronic HD patients included this study. Serum iron, iron binding capasity, ferritin and transferrin saturation were used to determine iron status. Liver stiffness was measured by an experienced gastroenterolog with Fibroscan device.

RESULTS: While mean Fibroscan value was 9,15 kPa, ferritin was 565,99 mg/dl. Fibroscan value were positive correlated with transferrin saturation and ferritin but negative correlated with albumin. In multiple regression analysis, it was observed that only ferritin and albumin levels related with Fibroscan value.

CONCLUSION: This study showed that the stiffness of the liver increasing while the ferritin value increasing. This result might be due to iron accumulation in the liver.