Estimation of copper and iron burden in biological samples of various stages of hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis patients.

There is accumulative evidence that the metabolism of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) is altered in human due to infections, indicating that both elements have roles in pathogenesis and progress of viral diseases. In the present study, the correlation of Cu and Fe was evaluate in biological samples (serum and scalp hair) of hepatitis C (hepatitis C virus (HCV)) patients of both genders at different stages. For comparative study, the scalp hair and serum samples of healthy individuals of same age group (30-50 years) and socioeconomic status were collected. The biological samples were analyzed for Fe and Cu by atomic absorption spectroscopy after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of methodology were checked by certified reference materials of same matrixes. The levels of Cu and Fe in biological samples were enhanced in hepatic disorder patients, including acute (after diagnosis test, anti-HCV sero-positive) hepatic fibrosis and liver cirrhosis as compared to healthy referents. The difference was significant (p < 0.01) in the case of liver cirrhotic patients. It was observed that the data of Cu and Fe in referents and patients of both genders had normal distributions. The inter-elemental correlation (r) among Cu vs Fe in serum and scalp hair samples of referents and patients were not significant in both genders (p > 0.1) except in the first stage of HCV (p < 0.1). It was concluded that the increase of Cu and Fe content in human body seems to contribute to the development of cirrhosis in patients with viral hepatitis C.