Iron turnover in chronic hepatitis.

Radioisotope studies of iron kinetics carried out in patients with chronic hepatitis yielded the following results. Serum iron level and free iron binding capacity showed little difference from the normal mean value. All three types studied (chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis with cirrhosis) revealed an abnormal distribution of iron in the first 24 hours. Normalization of iron distribution ensued in persistent hepatitis and in chronic active hepatitis with cirrhosis, but in chronic active hepatitis the abnormal distribution persisted, as reflected by a decreased iron utilization and an increased iron storage in the liver. The cause of this is attributed to a transitory accumulation of ferritin in the liver.