One hundred twenty-three patients with chronic liver diseases of various etiologies were evaluated for their iron status. The patients were divided into four distinct groups: chronic hepatitis C (63), chronic hepatitis B (14), B + C (3) and nonviral chronic liver diseases (43). In 107 patients (87%) the chronic liver disease was confirmed by biopsy. Mean serum iron (+/- SD) levels in the above four groups were: 166 +/- 62, 103 +/- 52, 142 +/- 48, and 115 micrograms/dl; iron-binding capacity was 346 +/- 80, 325 +/- 72, 297 +/- 27, and 374 +/- 75 micrograms/dl, and iron saturation 50 +/- 18, 32 +/- 16, 48 +/- 16, and 28 +/- 10%, respectively. Serum ferritin, increased in all four groups, was highest in HCV; however, no evidence of hepatic iron accumulation could be found in any of the patients. There were no significant differences in liver function parameters measured in the four groups. We conclude that serum iron, iron saturation, and ferritin are increased in patients with hepatitis C in comparison to hepatitis B or other nonviral, nonhemochromatotic liver diseases. The increased iron status in hepatitis C patients is not manifested by increased liver iron. Awareness of these distinct features of chronic hepatitis C is essential in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic liver diseases.

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Nine xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients were investigated. In comparison to a normal control group the XP patients had a reduced OKT-4 lymphocyte subpopulation, reduced response of lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin in autologous serum, and diminished delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction. The possible contribution of ultraviolet irradiation to the observed immunologic alterations, and the link of these alterations to the susceptibility of patients for malignant transformation is discussed. Cancer 58:219-221, 1986. ERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM (XP) is a rare autosomal X recessive disease. Patients are unable to repair ultraviolet (UV)-induced chromosomal damage and are succeptible to multiple pigmentous changes and malig-nancies on light-exposed areas.' Previous studies have demonstrated immunologic abnormalities in patients with XP. These include delayed rejection of skin grafts,2 reduced induction of lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) due to an inhibitory serum f a ~ t o r , ~-~ and combined immunodeficiency in one patient .5 Studies on mice have demonstrated alteration of the immune system secondary to UV irradiation.6-8 Such irradiation promoted the development of skin tumors, probably due to induction of suppressor T-cells, which delayed the antitumor response. Later studies in normal volunteers disclosed alterations of T-lymphocyte subsets secondary to UV irradiati~n.'.'~ As a result of the relationship between the immune system and UV irradiation, and due to the fact that XP patients are extremely UV-sensitive, we decided to investigate whether the immunological changes in XP patients might follow the pattern of those observed in normal controls after UV irradiation. Materials and Methods XP patients were diagnosed each by two independent dermatologists. Immunoglobulins were quantified by nephelometry" and compared to a control group of normal individuals. Delayed hypersensitivity (DHS) skin testing was performed by the intracutaneous injection of 0.1 ml of the following four recall antigens: purified protein derivative (PPD) (Connaught Laboratories), Candida (Hollister Stier Laboratories), trichophyton (Hollister Stier Laboratories) and streptokinase/streptodornase (SK/SD) (Lederle Laboratories). Testing was first performed with low concentrations 5 TU, 1 / 1000, 1 / 1000, and 10/2.5, respectively. The response was considered positive when 24 to 48 hours after injection, an induration of more than 5 mm was observed. l2 Lymphocyte transformation was performed by the method of Cunningham-Rundles et al., l 3 and mononu-clear cells were isolated by the method described by Bo-yum.14 Cultures were performed in triplicate, and dose response curves were established with 17.5, 4.4, and 1. I, pg/culture of PHA-P-Difco (Difco Lab, Detroit, MI), and 25, 17.5, 2.5, and 0.5 yglculture of pokeweed mitogen (PWM), respectively. Cultures were performed in 10% fe-tal calf serum (FCS) and concomitantly in 10% autologous serum. The cultures were harvested after 96 hours, with maximal stimulability exceeding 1 5000 CPM consider...

The use of in vitro release of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the diagnosis of contact allergy to potassium dichromate was studied in 20 patients who had positive patch tests to chromate and in 30 control subjects (10 patients with contact dermatitis, allergic to other allergens, 10 patients with other dermatologic diseases and 10 healthy subjects). The release of IFN-gamma in the supernatants of the peripheral blood lymphocytes was significantly higher in the patients with proven allergy to chromate (P = 0.001). Further studies are needed to determine if IFN-gamma release may serve as an additional diagnostic tool in contact dermatitis.