Determination of Tissue Iron and Ferritin in Liver Pathology. Comparison of Histochemical and Biochemical Results

Abstract

Results are presented from the determination of tissue iron and ferritin in 15 pathological livers (6 with steatosis, 8 with fibrosis/cirrhosis and 1 with haemochromatosis). The histological assessment according to the Rowe system, after Perls' staining, was compared with the measurement of the iron content in liver homogenate by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results of the flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry were less accurate than in normal livers, but the method can still be considered reliable with satisfactory precision. As in normal livers, the range of chemically determined values in the histological staining grades was considerable and there was quite an overlap between consecutive grades. The chemical determination of liver iron content is to be preferred. The levels of ferritin protein and ferritin iron follow the same pattern as the total iron content.