Hemochromatosis-newer concepts: Diagnosis and management

Vitamin C, Desferrioxamine and Iron Loading Anemias

“…For these patients the incidence of hepatic cirrhosis is higher than in the hypoplastic group as are the endocrine and cardiac dysfunction syndromes so characteristic of IHC. [3][4][5] Of some interest are those individuals with hemolysis and/or ineffective erythropoiesis: patients with hereditary spherocytosis6-' glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency,' congenital non-spherocytic anemia2-'0 including that due to pyruvate kinase and those with P-thalassemia minor' ' in .whom blood transfusion or iron administration cannot be incriminated for the observed iron overload. In these patients increased intestinal iron absorption secondary to anemia has traditionally been regarded as the basis for this iron overload, but recent evidence including that presented by Rowbotham and Roeser in this issue of the Journal suggests, that some of these subjects may be carriers of one or more genes for IHC.…”