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Juvenile hemochromatosis HJV-related revealed by cardiogenic shock
Mounir Filali1, Claire Le Jeunne, Eric Durand
1Département de Génétique Moléculaire, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Assistance Publique/Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
Insights
Juvenile hemochromatosis, a severe genetic disorder, can be caused by HJV gene mutations. Early HJV genetic testing in at-risk youth can prevent fatal cardiac complications.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Juvenile hemochromatosis is a rare, severe, autosomal recessive genetic disorder.
- It is characterized by excessive iron accumulation, leading to organ damage.
Observation:
- A consanguineous family presented with juvenile hemochromatosis linked to a mutation in the HJV gene.
- The proband died from cardiac complications, while her sister, treated with phlebotomies, avoided severe outcomes.
Findings:
- Both affected sisters shared a homozygous mutation (Arg288 > Trp) in the HJV gene and an identical homozygous haplotype on chromosome 1q21.
- This specific HJV mutation is associated with severe, early-onset hemochromatosis.
Implications:
- Complete HJV gene screening is crucial for early diagnosis in young patients with iron overload, hypogonadism, or cardiac symptoms.
- Timely diagnosis and treatment, such as phlebotomy, can prevent life-threatening cardiac complications and improve patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Hemochromatosis is a heterogeneous genetic disease. Juvenile hemochromatosis is a severe rare recessive autosomal disease. Herein, we report a consanguineous family linked to a mutation in the recently identified HJV gene. A refractory cardiogenic shock had revealed hemochromatosis in the proband, a 26-year-old woman, and led to the death by heart failure. Regular phlebotomies in her young sister, which was also affected, had allowed to prevent the severe complications of the disease. These two affected subjects presented an identical homozygous haplotype at the 1q21 chromosome region and a missense homozygous mutation at the HJV gene (Arg288 > Trp). This observation underlines the importance of HJV genetic testing, by complete screening of the gene, in young patients with abnormal iron parameters and hypogonadism and/or cardiac symptoms to prevent death from cardiac complications.
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