[Cardiac hemochromatosis. Anatomic, clinical and hemodynamical data]

The cardiovascular manifestations of idiopathic familial haemochromatosis (I.H.) should be well known. Of 25 patients seen for the most part in a Nutrition-Endocrinology Service, 10 suffered a purely cardiological problem at some point in their course.14 out of 18 patients had definite haemodynamic abnormalities. The discovery of cardiac haemochromatosis necessitates: a) depletive therapy by venesection which in certain cases is associated with the returm to normal of clinical and haemodynamic abnormalities (8-18-25). b) careful investigation of the family which, when positive, gives evidence of the primary nature of the iron excess. In members of the family suffering from I.H., early preventive therapy by vensections avoids the development of cardiovascular complications which are responsible for approximately 10 to 15 p.cent of causes of death in association with I.H.