Hepatic siderosis in alcoholics

Abstract

In a population of 157 (120 males, 37 females) predominantly British alcoholics with liver disease, the incidence of some degree of hepatic siderosis, as estimated by stainable parenchymal iron, was 57.3%. The incidence of significant siderosis (grades III and IV) was 7%, and was similar for both sexes. In the female alcoholics there was a significant correlation between age and the degree of siderosis (P<0.05)-four of the five females with significant siderosis being premenopausal. In the male alcoholics there was a significant inverse relationship between the grams of ethanol consumed per day and the degree of siderosis (P<0.05) and a significant correlation between the percentage saturation of iron-binding protein and the degree of siderosis (P<0.05). The mean daily iron intake from alcoholic beverages was 1.5 mg; there was no relationship between the amount of iron ingested in the alcohol and the degree of siderosis. In this population of alcoholics the incidence of significant siderosis in both sexes was low.