Free radicals radical production during normal

Iron removal Increased iron and ferritin levels are found in approx. 30% of patients with chronic hepatitis B or C. Several studies have shown that the success rate of interferon therapy is reduced in the presence of elevated liver iron values. This is attributed to the fact that iron overload inhibits not only lymphocyte proliferation, but also the function of killer cells and B cells as well as the production of antibodies. Iron plays a role in the formation of free radicals and the occurrence of dangerous lipid peroxidations, (s. pp 68, 401) Furthermore, iron, like oxygen radicals, promotes fibrogenesis. Iron removal leads to an improvement in laboratory parameters and better response to interferon-a therapy. (217, 243) On the other hand, the iron level is reduced as a result of successful IFN therapy. In the case of a higher serum iron status before the initiation of interferon therapy, venesections at one week intervals should be considered, if necessary until normal laboratory values (iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation) have been restored. During interferon therapy, a low-iron diet is advisable, as is the consumption of 2 x 1 cup of black tea (in the morning and at noon) to reduce iron absorption through chelate formation ( cheap, free of side effects and useful )- (s. p. 625) Silymarin also leads to iron mobilization due to chelate formation. 

Halothane (CFgCHBrCl), the first of the modern halogenated volatile anesthetics, was introduced into clinical practice in 1956. It is normally metabolized in an oxidative pathway forming bromide ions and trifluo-roacetic acid, neither of which has potential for tissue toxicity [36, 37]. Reductive metabolism of halothane takes place during low oxygen tension states in the liver [38]. This pathway has been linked to halothane-in-duced liver necrosis through production of free radicals that bind to cellular macromolecules [39, 40]. Reductive metabolism is also associated with production of fluoride ions [41], although the quantities produced are too small to have nephrotoxic importance. 

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