Hemochromatosis

When hepcidin misfunctions, iron metabolism falters

Published in Blood Weekly, May 2nd, 2002

Iron is vital for cells because it catalyzes key enzyme reactions; it is also crucial for respiration - fixing atmospheric oxygen to hemoglobin in red blood cells.

Iron deficiency can lead to severe anemia, with inadequate tissue oxygenation. An excess of iron is also toxic, as it facilitates the generation of free radicals that can attack the liver, heart and pancreas.

This is the case in hereditary hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder which, in 80% of cases, is linked to a point mutation in the Hfe-1 gene, leading to excessive iron uptake by the intestinal tract.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is very frequent in western countries,...

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Source: Blood Weekly (2002-05-02)

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